By Tom Rademacher
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- Where to start? With the two frog ceramic waterfalls?
The three frog phones? The seven frog hats? The 11 rings, two dozen T-shirts, 127 brooches, 200 stuffed animals -- all frogs ... FROGS, FROGS, FROGS! An entire apartment brimming with frogs will do that. And the words "entire" and "brimming" are not used loosely.
"Hi," said Judy Harlan to Grand Rapids Press writer Tom Rademacher in a recent column. "I'm the Frog Lady." That becomes obvious when you enter her one-bedroom unit at Breton Village Green Apartments in Grand Rapids.
"I used to count how many frogs I had, and I stopped at 1,500," Judy said. "That was a while ago."
There are (feel free to grab a breath here): angel frogs, frogs in jars, frogs on bumper stickers, frog greeting cards, too many frog necklaces to count, stained glass frogs, a frog dehumidifier, anatomically correct frogs, frog wind-up toys, frog sand art, frog cookie jars and glasses and pitchers, frog salt and pepper shakers, frog clocks, frog soap dispensers, a frog flashlight and radio and shadowbox.
There is (again, inhale) a frog massager, kissing frogs, a frog made out of the ash resin from Mount St. Helen's (certified), a frog sink strainer, frog potato chip clip, frog cake mold, nine frog watches, frog Christmas ornaments, frogs of pewter and brass and cut crystal, frog books, frog videos, frog snow globes, frog seashells, frog pillows, frog macrame, frog music boxes, frog candle holders, a frog tea set, frog puzzles and an entire marching band of frogs.
On the small patio outside her place, there are frog planters, statuary and a thermometer.
In the kitchen, you will find the following frog-themed items: Well, everything.
The bathroom is supposed to be a place of solace and respite, correct?
No.
Ready? Frog shower curtain, frog rugs, frog toothbrush holder, frog soaps and "Princess and the Frog" shampoo, to identify just a smattering.
The door to Judy's bedroom was shut. She asked not to open it.
"Oh, OK," she sighed, "but just a peek."
Four words: ALL OVER THE PLACE!
Judy Harlan is a divorced and well-traveled 66-year-old mother of two who has worked as a bookkeeper and massage school administrator. These days, she busies herself with Bible study and a Sunday school class, among other things.
About 35 years ago, she spied a frog made from bread dough for sale at a fundraiser for her son Eric's Little League team.
"It was so cute," she remembers, "but it was $3 and, in the '70s, I was a mom with two kids and not much money, so I thought, 'Maybe after the game.'"
Turns out Eric's little sister Melissa had some money on her at the time and bought it out from her mother, then decided to hand it over.
Then, the insanity kicked in.
In the beginning, Judy wasn't able to define her fascination with all things frog. But, today, she said she understands the reason, and it's tied to religion, specifically, FROG as in "Fully Rely On God," a little acronym that surfaced more than a decade ago.
She had business cards made that carry the little message, and she hands them out wherever she goes.
"I think God gave me my frogs as an evangelistic tool," she says.
Judy has spent as little as two bits and as much as $100 on a frog-related item. And, as you might guess, friends and relatives give her frogs for her birthday and at Christmas and other holidays.
I asked her if there was a frog thing she craved but didn't own.
Yes: a frog belt buckle.
I asked her what will happen to the frogs after she, she ... and she finished the sentence with "croaks?"
Well, yes, when she croaks.
To that end, she has put names of loved ones on the valuable frogs.
Others will go to mission stores.
Toward the end of our visit, she pointed to the kitchen table and offered an apology.
"I had frog placemats out here once, but I took them off," she said.
"I didn't want to go overboard."
Published: Wed, Nov 3, 2010
