A few years ago, while driving through the Maryland countryside, I committed vehicular manslaughter rodentslaughter. Yes, I accidentally ran over a baby groundhog. As I felt the thump of its tiny body being crushed beneath the wheels of my SUV, I felt sorrow – grief even, at this senseless loss of life. A shadow was cast upon my heart.
This morning, when Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, my shadow was lifted. No more will I mourn the loss of that overgrown rat. And to all groundhogs everywhere, but most especially to Phil, I say: watch out when crossing the road.
Phil’s official forecast as read February 2nd, 2009 at sunrise at Gobbler’s Knob:
Hear Ye Hear Ye Hear Ye
On Gobbler’s Knob on this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2010, Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators awoke to the call of President Bill Deeley and greeted his handlers, John Griffiths and Ben Hughes.
After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers, Phil proclaimed, “If you want to know next, you must read my text. As the sky shines bright above me, my shadow I see beside me. So six more weeks of winter it will be.”
P.S. from Newt: Boo! I wish Phil was blind!
