So Groundhog Day has come and gone. The most famous groundhog of Groundhog Day history is Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania. This year on February 2nd, Phil was released from his comfy captivity and forced into the wilds of Gobbler’s Knob in front of a camera crew and numerous onlookers to look around and predict whether or not spring was about to bust loose around us.
In case you’re wondering, Phil did NOT see his shadow which, according to legend means spring is indeed just around the corner. (I cry foul.) Now, had the rodent seen his shadow and scurried off in terror of his own grey likeness, the onlookers would have hung their collective heads and mumbled and complained about having to deal with six more weeks of winter as they shuffled off to their homes.
No mumbling or complaining happened this year on February 2nd. At least in Gobbler’s Knob.
The scene was different somewhere else. Milltown Mel, of New Jersey fame told another story. Mel, who has also been giving predictions for the past ten years, disagreed with his counterpart Phil. Mel saw his shadow and promptly crawled back into the loving arms of his handler eager to return to his comfy hidey-hole for six more weeks of R & R while winter howled around his cushy abode.
Not only is Phil a liar in my book, here’s something interesting about the events associated with the Pennsylvania groundhog. Did you know that there is a Groundhog Day Club complete with a special group of coat-tailed and top-hatted men called the “inner circle?” These silly guys insist that Phil is NEVER wrong. What they actually mean by that is that the prediction of the arrival of spring is not geographically specific. Therefore spring might indeed be just around the corner for folks in – say – Florida. People virtually everywhere else are blinded by snow and skidding into ditches on iced over or rain-slicked roads. Or building arks as they watch the flood waters steadily rise around them. You say semantics, I say liars.
The winter weather is so bad in fact that places like Malibu California saw snow falling from the sky for the very first time. EVER. The Sierra Nevada Mountains almost have too much snow even for skiing. Breckenridge Colorado saw record snowfalls two or three days in a row. The states surrounding the Great Lakes haven’t had temperatures over 25 degrees in days. And then there was this thing called a bomb cyclone which really needs so explanation, it was as bad as it sounds. But hey, Punxsutawney Phil is still considered to be 100% accurate. Yeah, tell that to the people in 49 other states and several other countries.
So, while most of us don our heavy winter coats and wool socks, someone, somewhere in Southern Florida is lounging on a beach in flip flops and swimwear wondering where all of the spring tourists are. I’ll tell you where they are – snowed in, that’s where.
Let this be a lesson to you all. Never trust a groundhog. Especially one that’s over 125 years old (that’s how long Punxsutawney Phil has been making his predictions, never mind that the lifespan of a groundhog is usually less than 6 years.) Yet another deception from the sacred “inner circle.”
What’s the weather like in your hometown? Do you wait with bated breath every February 2nd for the groundhog of your choice to make his prediction? Are you sick of winter?
Word of the Day: Deliquesce
Fun fact about me: I don’t like cold weather. Unless I’m skiing, then it becomes a necessary evil.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, March 2019. Images by Google Images and Giphy.
Want even more content, inside sneak peeks and giveaways? Why not sign up for my newsletter: http://bit.ly/2E852XM
On Common Ground is now available at fine retailers everywhere:
BookBaby: http://bit.ly/2yKH3t
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NPqohX
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2QmC60i
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2RfA0kf
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2QfmUlA
In Oregon, we had snow and ice a couple of weeks ago, and today the temperature is predicted to be 70 – 75 degrees. I say you just gotta go with the flow no matter what any inner circle tries to tell you. 🙂 I hope you start shedding winter at Bear House soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s the same here. Freezing one day so we have to run the heaters, in the 80’s the next, switch everything over to AC. It’s so frustrating. But, you’re right, you just have to be flexible and go with the flow.
Thanks for sharing. Stay warm up there.
Patricia
LikeLike
If we ever have snow around here, it quickly deliquesces. It rarely stays for 24 hours.
Our winter wasn’t all that bad. Then the beginning of March we had 3 days in a row with lows in the 20’s. Not cold compared to Michigan or North Dakota, maybe, but that’s not only unseasonable but unreasonable to us in Cowtown.
I feel the same way you do about snow. It’s wonderful on a ski slope, but who needs it anywhere else?
LikeLike
The weather has been weird everywhere. I’ve had travelers from Europe who say the same thing about their weather over there this year. It’s just one of those oddball years I guess.
And nice use of the word of the day!! Gold star for you.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe, warm and dry over there in Cowtown.
Patricia
LikeLike
On Feb. 2, the calendar says there are six more weeks of winter. I believe that over the groundhog!
It’s a nice, 51 degrees here in southwest OH today. Yesterday it was snowing like crazy, smh. My husband and I keep saying, “Enough of this, let’s move to Tennessee!” LOL. It snows once or twice a winter there, and never sticks – that’s enough for us!
And gotta love David’s use of your word!
LikeLike
Jennette, I believe the calendar over the groundhog any day as well, but it’s funny how there’s a whole “secret society” around this groundhog thing. It’s like they’re the Illuminati or something.
I see pictures on FB all the time of places where it’s still snowing. We finally have some beautiful weather here. Not crazy warm yet, but sunny and optimistic.
Thanks for stopping by today. You’ll be in Tennessee real soon so hang in there.
Patricia
LikeLike
Yesterday I spent the day skiing in Whistler, it was sooooo warm! The snow had started to melt to be slushy and the sun shone all day. It was totally different to skiing in a blizzard this time last year. He might not be lying after all…
LikeLike
Spring skiing is always challenging and it’s so much harder to ski on that slushy stuff. The days are nice but the slush makes it harder on your legs and knees.
I love your posts by the way. Keep them coming.
Patricia
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeees! I agree completely. We went last weekend and it was 12 degrees at the bottom of the mountain and super slushy.
Still, the snow felt good at the *top* of the mountain…it was just really hard work at the end of the day when our legs were tired and we had to get through the slushier areas to reach our car!
LikeLike
It’s a good work out though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
In defense of groundhogs, I’d have to say the varmint that pestered Bill Murray in “Caddyshack” had to be one of the most clever rodents in history. I’d believe anything he said about the weather.
LikeLike
Ah yes, the Caddyshack varmint. I’d believe him as well.
Thanks for giving me a smile today Al. It’s always nice to hear from you. I love your sense of humor.
Patricia
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smiling back at ya.
LikeLike
We’ve had a cold and rainy winter and I’m looking forward to spring. I don’t pay attention to groundhog day, but this was an amusing and fun post!
LikeLike
Thanks Lynn. I always forget it’s Groundhog Day too. I usually see a post or something on the internet that reminds me. I can almost always tell by looking outside whether or not we’re going to have 6 more weeks of winter.
Thanks for visiting today. Spring has sprung (finally) here in Vicksburg.
Patricia
LikeLike
Thanks Lynn. I always forget it’s Groundhog Day too. I usually see a post or something on the internet that reminds me. I can almost always tell by looking outside whether or not we’re going to have 6 more weeks of winter.
Thanks for visiting today. Spring has sprung (finally) here in Vicksburg.
Patricia
LikeLike