Adam’s house was flooded in Katrina. His entry into our Found Objects…Found Art contest is now part of his story…
Adam writes:
The Magical Frog
Funny how some objects find us. This 1970s toy frog I discovered waiting in a junk bin for me, is just like the one I carried in my pocket as a child, bringing me so much joy till it broke in half and became just a small piece of plastic with a wiggly eye that I still carried, until my mom most likely made me toss him out. I told many of my playmates he gave me special powers, oddly they even belived it. After my house flooded in Katrina, I lost many of my collected momentoes. Yet finding this simple object, became more like a long lost friend returning to you with tons of of stories and forgotten memories, worth far beyond some of the items I been holding on to. I find it quite fascinating how even the most mundane object can bring us places, return the joys of childhood and just serve the human spirit far beyond its intended purpose.Heres ol froggy looking at the repaired part of the levie in my back yard, and froggy in front of the my mid mod house that I’m still trying to restore. Thanks all for letting me share my found object story, and thanks Pam for an awesome site to share it.
adam says
hello dan
my house is less than 3 blks away from cabrini it broke my heart to see it torn down now they are builing some fake 1880 holycross school there .my house is built by philippe roach he studied under frank loyd wright yet is a tulane grad .I love curtis & davis soon we will have nothing of theres did they not learn from tearing down the river gate so sad many days i wonder why im still here .did you see the xxno modern web site i think Pam knows about i seen the pics in her site
DanMan says
Adam, I’m glad to hear you’re rallying for Mid-century Architecture in your city. I used to live in New Orleans, and it’s true – most citizens don’t realize that the city has some AMAZING architecture from the 1950s & 1960s. The 19th Century stuff receives more than its share of the limelight, while the mid-century stuff is demolished or remodeled beyond recognition.
New Orleans’ Mid-Century architectural legacy is especially endangered after Katrina, as many buildings flooded, and the owners don’t appreciate them enough to restore them. I was devastated when I learned of the demolition of St Francis Cabrini Church (Curtis & Davis, 1961). It was one of New Orleans’ best Modern buildings, in my opinion.
adam says
Thanks all for reading my story. Well my house flooded under 8 feet of water .The levie is in the backyard it breached about 3 houses over ,they only patched it and called it a day. Scarrry..as you can kinda see on the pic almost all the houses were torn down
yet i will not teardown so now I get the privlage to redo everything and boy its not easy.I will love to send pics once i get a camera thats not so blurry.Thanks again yall are so awsome loving the midcentry era and tring to presearve all that we can,Here in New Orleans there is a big bulldozer in front of everything built after 1890 they feel its worthless unless its looks like a big fake historc pre civil war building then they will save it. A very few of us are tring to save anything we can from the mid 20 century and when we wake it is gone . aggg So keep up the good work guys .the future gen. needs to to see live and enjoy what are grand parents did cause it just to cool.
Tera says
What a cool story. I can totally relate. I had a similar frog given to me as a child by a relative who has long since passed. It was not magical but a special security object. Glad you have one!
sumacsue says
Adam, what a great story. Links to past and present, losses and discoveries, whimsical habits from childhood, magical powers, the drama of Katrina, all spun into a wonderful tale of hope, thanks to a plastic frog. Thanks so much for sharing.
Beverly Sills says
How are you coming along with your restoration? I’d be really interested to hear what you’re doing, what you might need. Or what the frog might need! — Lisa, Kansas City