Legends and Winter, Toads and Warts

There is an old Indian (Native American) legend that says a person should never tell a legend out loud unless there is snow on the ground. 

If you do, there are ominous consequences—a toad/or in some cases a frog—will appear at your door, hop on your head and cause your face to be covered with warts.

Imagine my surprise – and you can imagine what I was thinking, after relating a particular legend to reinforce some point I was making to my youngsters one early summer evening. I went to put our dog outside and as I bent to pick up the chain we tethered him to when he was out alone, there on my door step—eyes as big as saucers, which glistened in the yellow glow from the porch light. There was this small reptilian creature. He blinked twice, hopped up onto my shoe and I have no idea where else he thought he was going, but I shook him loose and darted back into the house. 

Did I scream?  Yes! Did I forget to clip the dog on his chain? Yes. Did I charge back into the house and promise never to tell another legend unless it was the dead of winter and snow was 6 feet deep—you can bank on it.  Legend or truth?  You decide.