Photo © Mike Korostelev/Solent News

Groundhog Day, February 2, has long been a favorite holiday of mine. I have especially enjoyed the movie of the same name annually, with Bill Murray. But now I recognize the date for what it was: a pathetic ploy to con myself into surviving another dreadful winter. Why live in place seriously devoid of sun when there is warmth enough to sleep with the windows open all winter just a few thousand miles to the south? (There’s a small pool in the backyard, although not big enough for the guest depicted above.)

Six more weeks of winter is mostly a lie.  (*Many northerners also call the groundhog a woodchuck, thus ‘Chucky.)