Happy Groundhog’s Day! Enjoy Every Minute

Amid sham and scam produced by this modern age, how we cling to trivial activities like wondering if the ground hog saw his shadow today. That’s right. In case you’ve forgotten, or your computer has not informed you, today is Ground Hog’s Day.
One way I remember the date was my mother always saying it was “My brother, Buddy’s birthday.” He passed at a young age, so I never knew him, but I mentally link him with Groundhog’s Day.
How laughable to think that anyone, an this age where cell phones tell everything from the price of gasoline to names of constellations in the heavens, that we would fancy placing a shred of confidence in a sleepy rodent appearing from a hole in an obscure Keystone State town. Yet, we do it.
If nothing more, this ignoble occurrence is one of those many and tiny reassurances that Nature still commands, regardless whether we admit it.
Those of us who pass some cold winter nights away reading the Old Farmer’s Almanac, and who check dates for the length of days, know that each day is adding a few more minutes of light. Some may not realize it, but going home about 5:30 p.m. is not as dark a trek as it was two months ago.
Amid the chill of the recent weather, I wonder just how many crocuses are ready to pop out of the snow to let us know life has continued from last year to this, unaided by anything we humans did.
According to the Internet’s Wikipedia, that lazy person’s way to quickly get a fix on any subject know to mankind, “Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly “see its shadow” and retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.
“Modern customs of the holiday involve celebrations where early morning festivals are held to watch the groundhog emerging from its burrow. In southeastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges (Grundsow Lodges) celebrate the holiday with fersommlinge, social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more g’spiel (plays or skits) are performed for entertainment.
“The Pennsylvania German dialect is the only language spoken at the event, and those who speak English pay a penalty, usually in the form of a nickel, dime or quarter, per word spoken, put into a bowl in the center of the table.
“The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day received worldwide attention as a result of the 1993 film of the same name, Groundhog Day, which was set in Punxsutawney and featured Punxsutawney Phil.
For restive Republicans in the county, the emergence of freeholder candidates is something akin to Groundhog Day.
There is great anticipation amongst party faithful, just as there is in Punxsutawney.
Those who hope to have their names placed before their peers for consideration as one of two candidates for seats being vacated by Director Daniel Beyel and Ralph Sheets, there have certainly been many phone calls and fast meetings. To be sure, there are cost calculations, in finances and personal time.
Seeking political office, if it’s done correctly, sucks up an enormous amount of one’s home life. In fact, I envision the candidate, after winning the primary nod in June, having a farewell dinner with the family, toasting with champagne (real or non-alcoholic) and kissing them all farewell.
Gone will be those leisurely second and third cups of coffee in the morning reading yesterday’s news. Vanished from the household will be those quaint evenings helping the youngsters with homework. Forget golfing and fishing on the weekends. If you become a real candidate, there is one thing to do before November, and that is meeting your voters. Walk the walk. Listen to the people who you want to cast a vote for you.
Having never been in those shoes, I can only imagine what it’s like to knock on doors in Wildwood and Marmora, Woodbine and Cape May, and get doors slammed in your face, or told where to go, and what to do on the way.
Still, among the nasty people you’d meet, there are others who will probably impart constructive criticism or offer keen insight into how this county ought to be run.
Regardless of political affiliation, take a page from Sen. Jeff Van Drew’s campaign book, and become a familiar face in every shopping center in this great county. Learn to remember names and faces (something that fails me to this day), and try not to shake hands too hard or too soft.
Have a pad, and jot down important points that your potential voters say. Learn from the grassroots, that is where the vast knowledge rests.
Okay, here we are, back to talking about earth and grassroots and groundhogs.
By the way, take notice of tree branches. You might be amazed to see there are signs of life ensconced in what seems lifeless gray bark. That is proof Nature is working well, on its own schedule, regardless of what the groundhog may or may not see today.
Enjoy the day, it’s the only one we have!