Groundhog, Shmoundhog

Why do we trust the groundhog? Who decided the six-week-shadow-rule? Does anyone actually check its accuracy at predicting winter’s end?

The Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club claims Phil, the groundhog that’s supposedly been predicting the weather for over 100 years, is accurate 100% of the time. This year, according to the life-giving-elixir-drinking Phil, we’re in for six more weeks of winter.

But...the snow is melting...the days are longer...the spring seems near. *knock on wood* Has anyone considered that Phil runs back into his hole because there are so many people watching him, making tons of noise, and forcing him to take pictures when he just woke up and isn’t necessarily looking his best? Maybe the little guy just gets scared. Six more weeks of winter? Ha! I’ll leave that up to global warming.

Just one final question: Why do we trust the word, so to speak, of a furry little rodent who has supposedly been given the secret to ever-lasting life? If a person claimed to possess such powers, you’d think they were crazy! (Then again, if someone had a magic potion like that, they would probably keep it a lucrative money-making secret, Death Becomes Her-style.)

Maybe Phil is the Santa Claus for grown-ups – only they never seem to grow out of it.