We did it. We made it to another halfway mark of another winter – February 2, the exact midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox – Groundhog Day. This special day is indeed a day of reckoning, hence. Will we suffer through these six more weeks of winter, or, like this winter up until now, will we enjoy six weeks more of winter?
So, wow! Here we are! Another year, another Groundhog Day cover. It feels like only just weeks ago I was sitting here, melancholy, penning an open apology letter to Punxsutawney Phil for having doubted his disappointingly precise prediction of six more weeks of winter. In the end, I believe it was more like ten more weeks of winter, for 2015 was the winter that kept on wintering.
Anyway, back to the groundhog. What is he going to predict this year? Will he have to flee from his shadow, hang out for a while and announce spring’s arrival, or will he simply go rogue like he did last year, disregard the absence of a shadow, and tell us all what the Groundhog Day elite tell him to say?
We will be watching, Phil.
In the meantime, enjoy this year’s winning cover of The Wanderer Groundhog Day Cover Contest! There were a number of fantastic submissions this year; nonetheless, Neva Matos, 7, of Rochester, won a $250 cash prize after receiving by far the most online votes on our website for her colorful depiction of the good old groundhog peeking up from his winter hideaway. Congratulations Neva!
Thank you to all who submitted a wonderful work of art. Happy Groundhog Day, everyone!
By Jean Perry
