Yet again we consult the mystical rodent known only as Punxsutawney Phil, a rodent who has apparently lived for over 100 years. He, and only he, can tell us whether winter will continue for another six weeks.
I don’t know why they call this rodent “Punxsutawney Phil”. Why the hell couldn’t they have gone down the road just a short distance, to Albion? Albion Phil doesn’t have the same ring to it, but surely “Albion Algernon” or something would do.
Every year, legions of journalists have to go look up how to spell “Punxsutawney”, because it is such an oddball word, and so infrequently used. This doesn’t apply to the fine citizens of Punxsutawney, who of course know how to spell the name of their own town. I apologize to both of you.
Yet again, Punxsutawney Phil has come out of his hole, seen his shadow, and predicted that winter will last another six weeks. I have to say that we probably don’t need the services of a prophetic rodent to make this determination.
Groundhog day takes place on February 2. Winter ends on March 19. You do the math. It comes out to six weeks and change. I don’t care if Phil comes out wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sun glasses, with a little piña colada to sip. It’s still six more weeks of winter.