Concerning Groundhog Day . . .
I hear that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today - that means 6 more weeks of winter.
So, Dad tells me that, in the late 60s, every year on Groundhog Day, and sometimes on the day before, there were two groundhogs that would appear up on the bank of Highway 280, on the right side of the road, just past the river bridge in Alexander City. They didn't seem to be interested in seeing their shadows. They just sat there and looked out over the highway. Dad and a friend of his, who is no longer alive, witnessed this for several years!
How on earth did they know what day it was? Smart groundhogs! And upon posting this story on Facebook, I am told by another hometown resident that it hasn't been that many years ago that two groundhogs would sit on the hill where the Lake Hill Restaurant used to be. They loved to bask in the sun and watch the traffic! This is the same location where Dad saw his groundhogs. I am not sure how long groundhogs live, but I would be surprised if this was the same two.
I wonder what it was about this location that attracted groundhogs? Perhaps it was food since the restaurant was close by. Dad said the Lake Hill Restaurant was open when he used to spot the critters. After all, they ARE hogs! Cute little ones at that.
To conclude this short account of two groundhogs traffic-watching in Alexander City, AL, I am reminded of a humorous story told by well-known radio and television personality, Art Linkletter, when he was still alive. He interviewed a young child (I think it was a girl) and asked what Easter meant to her. She said, "It's when Jesus died on a cross, was buried in a tomb, and on the 3rd day he came out of the tomb, saw his shadow, and turned around and ran back in again!"
This youngster was obviously mixing up her holidays in the most comical of ways! Groundhog Day IS, to me anyway, a somewhat fun and humorous day, whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not. I always look forward to hearing the news every February 2, although I read that Phil has been accurate only 40% of the time over the past 10 years. That's not the best record!
That's OK, Phil. You still give me and many others something to look forward to every year at the beginning of February!
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