Sorry Mr. Groundhog: Still six more weeks of winter
So, today is Groundhog Day.
It’s one of the lesser-celebrated holidays of the year, unless, of course, you happen to live in Punxsutawney, Pa. Then, it’s a celebration unlike any other.
I know this because I watched the movie “Groundhog Day,” with Bill Murray several times.
Now, I have never been one to pay very much attention to what the groundhog tells us.
Why? Because even before he comes out of his tiny hole, his cage or whatever it is they have that poor little guy contained in, I already know that there will be six more weeks of winter.
How do I know this? Because it is only Feb. 2. And spring doesn’t begin until March 20 or 21.
That’s how I know there will be at least six more weeks until spring.
Actually, more like seven or eight. This guy should have already been fired. He doesn’t really get it right, anyway. I think they keep him around because he’s fuzzy and it gives the people living in Punxsutawney something to do. What do they have really besides this?
But it is kind of nice we have a holiday that celebrates this tiny little critter — he is awfully cute.
If my opinion was of any consequence, I believe we should be celebrating all of the holidays with some type of animal centered around its purpose.
No, not Easter. That already has the Easter Bunny. And although I adore rabbits, they should have left that one alone. Easter was meant for Jesus, not the Easter Bunny.
I’d like to ask whoever came up with that idea what exactly were they thinking.
Sure, I can find a miniscule way to correlate there being an empty plastic egg with there being an empty tomb from which Jesus rose on that third day. But that’s as far as I am willing to go to connect the two.
And if a child who has searched for a hidden egg all morning finds one and it is empty … well. That is just teaching them at an early age that life has its disappointments. And it’s rather a rude thing to do.
Then there is Thanksgiving and the turkey. This one doesn’t really work out too well, seeing as how we eat the holiday’s symbol.
Moving on.
Another holiday that has an animal associated with it is Halloween — and the black cat.
I do not really like talking about Halloween because I don’t actually see its point.
Although last year I did pass out candy for the first time in 53 years. And I found that every child will choose the Reese’s Cup. Also, not a lot of kids like Kit Kats. They will accept a Nestle Crunch bar, though, if the Reese’s Cups are all gone. You’re welcome.
Yes, you could say Christmas and reindeer go together. But not really.
The next holiday on the calendar will be Valentine’s Day.
No, it has nothing to do with animals. It has to do with celebrating love and relationships.
This is a day I can do without.
In a way, it’s just a test to see how many men will forget. Resulting in how many men (or women, I suppose) will get yelled at or dumped because they didn’t take their significant other out to dinner. Or maybe they didn’t buy them flowers, jewelry or chocolates.
I think more people get married on Valentine’s Day than on any other holiday. But I also believe more people file for divorce on the day after Valentine’s Day if they aren’t careful.
Consider that my gift to you in case you happened to forget the day is quickly approaching.
And please, don’t be one of those men you see standing in the store the day of, wondering why there are only stupid cards left in the stands. Or why there are only wilted, non-roses in the floral section.
Your partner doesn’t want to go to a fast-food restaurant, either. And they certainly don’t want to cook. So, plan ahead people. You have 12 days to get it right.
Oh, and women want a box of real chocolates — not a package of M&Ms.
Again, you’re welcome.
I have never been the recipient of a Valentine’s Day gift. I am fairly certain I mentioned this last year in my column.
There was a time, however, when my grandmother would get me a small, heart-shaped Valentine’s Day cake from Kroger. I remember she was insistent that everyone received their own personal cake for the holiday.
And when she couldn’t go out to get it herself, she had my mom go to the store for her. Thank you, mom.
I remember a time when my grandma was very ill. She had breast cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Still, she somehow managed to find a way to go out and get those cakes for us.
Of all the things in life that she had to worry about, and that was what she was concerned with … she was definitely one-of-a-kind. A very special lady, indeed. Just ask anyone who knew her — Shirley Carnahan. A name that should be in history books. But never will. But she was pretty special. And memorable.
She has been gone a very long time.More than two decades. And every day of these last 23 years (I think) I have spent missing her. We all have.
But back to the holidays … yes, my Christmas tree is still up. It is still decorated and sitting in my front bay window for all of Toronto to see.
I told you I wasn’t celebrating Christmas in December.
I mentioned we were waiting until my youngest son returns from Poland in March or April.
As a matter of fact, all of my decorations are still up, including my outside lights. Don’t judge me. I am different, I know.
Of course, I still haven’t bought anyone a present yet and I don’t know if I will even be able to. But I am still going to keep the tree up.
Just in case.
Maybe Santa is bored and will show up. You never know.
Well, I think that’s about it for the holidays. And again, I thank you for reading this little section of the paper. My little corner of the world. Perhaps next week there will be something more entertaining I will be able to talk about.
But I wouldn’t count on it.
Until then, Happy Groundhog Day.
(Stenger is the community editor for the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times newspapers. She can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)