GROUNDHOG DAY

Tomorrow is "Groundhog Day," and I hope you will observe the solemn occasion by eating a LOT of pork sausage ("ground hog").  I must credit a friend with that inspiration.

Anyway, a big to-do is made every year about whether or not the poor rodent "sees" his shadow whereupon, the legend goes, if he does see said shadow, he will crawl back into his burrow and hibernate another 6 weeks while winter weather continues to grind down our spirits.  February is supposed to be the LONGEST month in the year!

The popular alternative is that if the groundhog does NOT see his shadow, there will be a SHORT winter; but, that is not part of the "official" legend!  There is simply nothing said about the ABSENCE of the groundhog's shadow, one way or the other!  It is another unwarranted conclusion to which unthinking people leap!

Consider that "6 weeks" from Feb. 2 is March 16, which is about 5 days short of the Equinox, the "official" beginning of Spring.  Winter is normally not going to end much earlier anyway, and it could run a lot longer past March 16!  So, the "legend" is merely a redundancy.  It states the obvious.  The weather following Feb. 2 until mid-March is going to most likely be rather nippy anyway!  Shadow or no!

The daylight is already lasting longer in the evenings.  That is most welcome.  Now if only the temperatures would rise a bit.  At least the daffodils will start popping out in about 4 weeks!

B-R-R-R-R-R!