…I feel I owe you a great deal of apology. Approximately eight weeks ago, I fear I was quite severe with my words toward you, and I do believe that I was wrong for having accused you of deceiving us with what can only be declared now as your rightful prediction of the subsequent weeks of winter that have grieved us all most ardently.

You see, my dear sir, that I had perceived your calculation to be of the most devious and vexing of forecasts, and I pray you will be kind enough to grant me the opportunity to explain in the most sincerest of hopes that you might forgive me for my offense against you and your good name.

As you most certainly remember, Mr. Phil, that on Monday, February 2 – a day observed annually when you are most celebrated – as on most Mondays during this unforgiving winter, there was indeed a snowstorm that stretched across half of the country. We, your faithful followers, were confident that, given the weather, the overcast, and the inches of snow gathering around us, you would naturally predict the early arrival of spring in the absence of your shadow that, according to lore, would have sent you hurrying back into your hideaway beneath the frozen ground while six more weeks of winter would torment us all and deprive us of the coming of spring for longer than we could endure.

And against all propriety in respect to the external circumstances and contrary to the predictions of your fellow groundhogs in nearby regions, you stood your ground and declared your immediate retreat to your subterranean sanctuary, whilst admonishing us to follow your example in kind, in spite of our desperate demand for a proclamation of an emerging and hasty period of unseasonable warmth that would melt our cold hearts once o’er with the accompanying affections of fragrant springtime flowers, rich earth-scented air, and fresh rain.

Upon hearing of your unfortunate finding, I admit, dear sir, that I impolitely and indiscreetly announced to all that you must have been mistaken, or even worse, had explicitly misinformed us, if only to torment our mortal minds, confuse us, and delight in our bewilderment. That, kind sir, would have been most unappealing and would have severely affected our high regard and esteem for you.

And now, as I look back upon the aforementioned eight weeks, I find myself feeling ill at my behavior, my distrust, and my self-indulgent wallowing, as well as my disdain for your (honorable) actions that served only to warn us of an impending period of insufferable discontent.

My dear Mr. Punxsatawney Phil, I beseech you to excuse my inimical and indefensible etiquettes and incorrect conjectures I conferred that may have harmed your reputation and wounded your pride. If only I had listened to your infinite wisdom instead of indulging in the impertinence of the imposition of my own desire for an early spring, ignoring your infallible intuition.

Although it may be too late, and I pray that it might not be so, I hope that you will accept my most heartfelt apology and, when you finally emerge from your hideaway in the ground, you will forgive me of my folly and we shall continue on as good acquaintances, if not good friends. At the very least, Phil, allow me to owe you a Guinness at the tavern of your choosing.

In other words, you were utterly right. I was wicked wrong. So, sorry, dude.

Sincerely, and with the kindest of regards,

Jean Perry

When Kyra Lorden was younger and drawing pictures as a child in Marion, she did not give much thought to growing up to become a ‘real artist’ and making art her career path. But she enjoyed drawing and, encouraged by her artistic dad, she continued to create and eventually took art lessons. Now a senior at Old Rochester Regional High School, Lorden has truly become a real artist and is enjoying the recognition that her talent deserves.

Lorden recently entered two of her works of art into the regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards contest, thinking that perhaps one of them might be awarded some kind of prize. Little did she know that her watercolor and micron pen mixed media piece titled “The Closet” would head to Carnegie Hall to be displayed in an exhibition of the nation’s best student artwork after winning the silver award in the national contest.

The inspiration for the piece was literally the closet of the school art room, with all its paints, papers, easels, and supplies – all the things that artists use to transform their visions into masterpieces and inner worlds into a window for the onlooker to see into.

“I was in there one day,” said Lorden, thinking about the moment she decided the art room closet would make a nice subject. “I looked around and thought, ‘wow, that would just be really horrible and fun and time consuming.” A really fun challenge, she thought to herself. “So I sat in there and started drawing … and it ended up taking hours and hours.”

She is glad she did it, though. It was, she said, definitely worth it.

Lorden’s visual arts teacher at ORR, Jo Mogilnicki, describes Lorden as thoughtful, kind, and reflective in that she believes in her voice and the ability to make a positive difference.

“Her art and writing speaks to creating meaningful, accessible responses that are powerful and provocative,” said Mogilnicki. She thinks Lorden really captured the mood and the essence of the art room closet. “…In its order and chaos,” she said, listing the different supplies. “[The Closet] displays a joy in what can be found in the art room supply closet, and the potential that lays waiting for someone with her interests in making art with these materials stored there.”

Both The Closet and another submitted drawing won gold keys in the regional contest, making both pieces eligible for the national contest where The Closet won the silver. Two of Lorden’s written submissions won silver keys in the regional contest.

Lorden is currently a leading member of the Honors Portfolio Art Class and the president of the ORRHS Art Club. She applied to the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and learned of her acceptance into the program back in December. She is a self-motivated individual whose work reflects a rigorous dedication to high expectations and standards, says her proud art teacher.

“It has been an honor to have a student such as Kyra…. She embodies the idea of a student of life … she is curious, she acts on her curiosity, she is generous and … shares her knowledge and understanding of her community,” said Mogilnicki. “…And no doubt will continue to create beautiful, provocative works of art.”

By Jean Perry