Punxatawney Phil has "spoken" and claimed that we will be having an early Spring this year. Considering the kind of winter we have been having so far, it doesn't seem much of a stretch, but then, New England weather always keeps us on our toes.
I was told that Phil's record is very poor in terms of guessing right, so why does this tradition continue? I think we all get a measure of comfort, of a change of season on the horizon, a sense of possibility with this yearly ritual. Phil may not be right, but we know that he is marking the mid point of the winter and so no matter what, we are on the downhill slide to warmer weather, the reappearance of flowers and birds, and the knowledge that another season will then be on the horizon. It reminds us to start looking around for signs of Spring. It could be a that the days are clearly longer already, that the pussy willows are budding, that Monty the Groundhog is back making a mess of the library lawn, or whatever says Spring to you.
What Phil brings is possibilities, hope, and a renewal of spirit. Does he get the date just right? Does that really matter? His gift is that he gets us all thinking of the future. Oh and an added bonus gift of the reminder to watch the movie Groundhog Day of course!
