GROUNDHOG DAY

Today, February 2, is Groundhog Day.  It’s the day Punxatawney Phil supposedly comes out to see if he can see his shadow.  This is a ritual that has taken place here in the States since 1887.  It seems to be strictly an eastern thing.  But because our western pioneers were so attached to the earth with farming and cattle raising, I’ve often wondered if people on the frontier used a groundhog to tell the weather.

Incidentally, since 1887 Phil has seen his shadow 99 times, not seen it 16 times, and there are 9 years with no record.  How well has he done?  Phil has forecasted the weather correctly only 39 percent of the time.

Sorry Phil, I’ll stick with my weatherman.  He does a slightly better job.