Groundhog Day

It's Groundhog Day!

Groundhog Day is a holiday that probably confuses readers outside North America, and delights very few outside rural Pennsylvania.

It's a celebration of hope that Winter will go away - even though it never does.

Well - it does go away, but not on February 3rd.  It leaves March 21rst - if we're lucky.

 In Canada - they just figure they're stuck till May.

But Groundhog day is a day of hope

And perhaps misplaced faith.  Some skip the hope and faith and try to spend the cold months inside.

Looking for new hobbies like knitting for friends

Rearranging furniture

Vocational training

And blaming others for that stir-crazy feeling

Out-door snow people tend to enjoy this time of year.

Unless they're in certain yards

Animals differ on the joys of the season

And even some humans find reasons to savor it.

But for me - well, there are reasons I prefer the south.

I can usually cope - barring unrelated disappointments

But generally, come each groundhog day, I get a little edgy if the prediction goes the wrong way.

This winter, try forcing your pets into hard labor.