The Groundhog's Revenge

April 2, 2017

I don't know about you, but I spent a lot of time in March apologizing to Punxsutawney Phil for my lack of faith in his predictions this year. On February 2nd, the crotchety, cowardly, old Highly Esteemed Groundhog emerged from his den and saw his shadow, indicating that Spring 2017 would arrive late. This forecast was followed by a spell of gorgeous February weather which made many of us scoff at Phil's apparently flagrant mistake.

But March brought The Groundhog's Revenge, in the form of ice, cold, and snow. He doubled down after the solstice, and April Fool's Day seemed designed for Phil's personal enjoyment, with snow, rain, and wind howling throughout New England like the groundhog's great guffaw.

And so I've learned my lesson. No further replays of storms or blizzards are henceforth required. You were right, Phil. From now on, I will yield to the Authority of the Groundhog.

To honor Phil, the Groundhog Day prediction I so easily dismissed, and Bill Murray (whose movie predicament was much more entertaining than March's repetitive weather patterns), I'm serving up a revised post from last year, edited to include local pictures which prove that spring, thank goodness, is arriving. At long last.

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Wilcox Park, Westerly, RI

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Outward Bound

by Fran Prescott

First, sharp green fingers

dig into the air,

pulling after them

the head

of the crocus.

Then, like a mole

squinting toward

light,

the bud turns

to bask in the warmth.

See how it opens

its mouth

to drink in

sun?

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Wilcox Park, Westerly, RI

 

Wilcox Park, Westerly, RI

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Spring is on its way. The crocuses are digging themselves out of the cold ground and basking in the sunlight. Buds on trees will soon unclench like fists relaxing in the warmth. The ospreys are in their nests, the red-winged blackbirds are calling out on the marshes, and the chickadees are singing their two-note spring mating song.

Maybe the Groundhog's Revenge has its bright side, after all. Every sign of spring seems a bit more precious after the cold road we traveled to reach it.

What signs of spring are you seeing now? Give a little reassurance to those still digging out from the last snowstorm that there's hope. Post what you've noticed and share the joy!

A Tumble of Thoughts

Have you ever stumbled upon one of those sections of beach that are a jumble of tiny pebbles, bits of sea glass and broken shells, with minute squares of seaweed strewn in the mix like damp confetti? I love sifting through them for tiny treasures, and the hodgepodge randomness often sorts itself into a pattern when I look more carefully. Jingle shells and mussel shells which are still somewhat intact lie on the surface. Mermaid’s purses and whelk-egg spirals are on the edge closest to the dry sand. Larger stones are underneath, or closer to the waves.

I mention these jumbles because, for the past month or more, I’ve felt as if my brain must resemble one—with less order to the mix. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve been sick and dizzy from an ear infection, or if it’s the meds I’ve been on to fight the inflammation, but my thoughts have been tumbling around in my head and disappearing like they’ve been caught in the surf and can’t find their way out.

A friend of mine, still suffering from a similar illness, said, “It makes you appreciate how fragile our good health is.” That’s a thought that has been glimmering in the churning waves inside my skull, and today, as the meds are starting to leave my system, I find I can focus on it.

There are many sentiments which express the same idea. “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” “Nothing lasts forever.” Even “use it or lose it” can apply! But it really all boils down to being grateful for what you’ve got. So today, even though I’m still fatigued and off-kilter, I’m going to focus on what I’m grateful for: my general good health. Oh—and the ability to hold onto the thread of this one thought long enough to see it through to the end of this page!

What are you grateful for today? Let me know in the comments section!