Blog #135--Ground Hog Day Memories

Isn’t it amazing how a small town with a highly unusual name was able to put itself on the national and international map by creating a unique and popular event? I’m speaking about Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a town of less than 10,000 people 84 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. It recently celebrated the 130th anniversary of Ground Hog Day at Gobbler’s Knob, where a ground hog allegedly predicts whether there will be an early spring or six more weeks of winter.

Of course, February 2 of each year is approximately midway between the beginning of winter and the beginning of spring, so there is always about six more weeks of winter. And the relative mildness of the winter of 2015-2016 in the Midwest and East made this year’s prediction of an early spring highly likely. Whether the leaders of Ground Hog Day in Punxsutawney actually receive messages from their ground hog is debatable. But there is no doubt most animals are much more aware of upcoming weather than humans. We must rely upon trained weather forecasters, and they are far from perfect despite advanced technology.

I was once asked to give a speech about Ground Hog Day when I worked as a Small Animal Extension Veterinarian at the University of Illinois. A nursing home wanted something to stimulate its elderly residents, and Ground Hog Day gave them an excuse to seek me out. I will never forget that speech, especially looking out into the audience and seeing mostly people who were asleep in their seats.

I could not with clear conscience tell those who remained awake that the Pennsylvania celebration was legitimate. It might be, but we have only the word of the celebration leaders to go on. Do they actually receive a message from the ground hog, or do they merely check whether the sun is shining or behind a cloud? Supposedly, the ground hog wakes up from its hibernation on or around February 2nd of each year, comes out of its burrow and checks for its shadow. Good news of an early spring follows if he doesn’t see his shadow.

I am skeptical of the town’s motives in this. After all, they get a lot of worldwide notoriety from the event. And the tourists who make the trek to the holy city of Punxsutawney have to purchase food, gasoline, souvenirs and perhaps a motel room nearby, adding to the town’s financial stability. Would they continue the celebration if no one outside of residents came for it? Perhaps, but I bet some of the residents would begin to doubt its veracity without the fringe benefits.

Despite my skepticism, I told the folks at the nursing home that ground hogs may indeed may be able to sense the approach of spring sufficient to help us do likewise. Most non-human species have sensing abilities stronger than humans. At least, they are more aware of their abilities since they have no “authorities” telling them what to believe. They must depend on their instincts to survive, and humans throughout history have benefitted from watching Nature for repeatable signs to help guide them.

Of course, many people assume they are superior to other species. They listen only to their human leaders, who they believe know more about life and ignore signs that appear daily around them. This makes them vulnerable to a good sales pitch that may have an ulterior motive to make more profit and/or gain more power. In the case of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, perhaps the once-a-year celebration is innocuous. But it wouldn’t surprise me if there was occasionally a squabble or two over the leadership and organizational plans for the celebration in this otherwise sleepy town. After all, ego is ego.

Without doubt, my best Ground Hog Day memory is watching the movie of the same name. Bill Murray has the leading role, and he is forced to relive the day over and over again. His response to his dilemma produces plenty of comedy, but that is not why I remember it so well. It also teaches two important lessons for those of us willing to look beyond the humor.

Trying to move on to the next day, he decides to kill himself. No matter what he does, he still wakes up to the same day. He tries every type of suicide he can think of, without success. Without realizing it perhaps, he overcomes his fear of death through this process. I would wish the same for everyone.

He also finds out that his normally self-centered approach to life was no longer viable, especially when trying to impress a love interest played by Andie MacDowell. Little by little, he begins to become more selfless. By the time he is ready to progress on to February 3rd, he is the exact opposite of his former self. He gives of himself willingly to help others, and he becomes one of the most beloved people in the town. He is also able to impress MacDowell, providing the happy ending all movies like that require.

In reality, many of us live out our entire lives as if every day was the same as every other day. Whatever mistakes we made yesterday will be repeated today because we are afraid to consider other approaches. If we had the same opportunity to change our ways that Murray had in the movie, we could transform ourselves from a two-dimensional ego into a fearless, multi-dimensional, spiritual being capable of treating all others as equals.

Ground Hog Day is a non-event for most people and has disputable value as a weather predictor. But the two memories I have about the day are keepers. Hopefully, we all have an early spring this year and every year.

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