Final 12 months I had an actual downside with Groundhog Day. The issue was that there have been simply too many well-known woodchucks with totally different predictions for the top of winter, and I did not know who to consider. Between the world-famous rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, the lesser-known marvel woodchuck, Staten Island Chuck, and dozens of others, the taking part in subject was simply approach too crowded with psychic marmots. I additionally puzzled if possibly Chuck, Phil and the remainder of the celebrity marmots could possibly be trusted. Simply as film stars activate the attraction when the cameras are rolling, I puzzled if possibly the well-known groundhogs can be much less involved about the appropriate season modifications and extra desirous about simply posing for the cameras.
So this 12 months I made a decision to comply with one other marmot. This 12 months I wager on us woodchuck. Suburban Stan, as we name him, lives under our deck, and like his well-known brethren, he additionally peeps out from his den round Groundhog Day. I wasn’t certain if he was actually on the lookout for his shadow like the opposite dudes, or if he was simply checking to see if the unhealthy household canine was nonetheless lurking. But when he occurred to see his shadow, or not, whereas trying round, the top consequence can be the identical and I might have my prediction. I used to be fairly certain Stan would give us an unbiased studying as a result of in contrast to Phil and Chuck, he had no viewers to please or paparazzi to carry out for. He additionally did not have his personal safety workforce, Twitter account, or Fb web page, did not have his personal actuality present, and had by no means hosted “SNL,” so all in all, I believed he was most likely a reasonably grounded woodchuck.
Nonetheless, as we bought nearer to Groundhog Day, I began to get nervous that Stan may sleep by the massive occasion. Well-known groundhogs have their very own individuals to wake them up and ensure they’re prepared for the digital camera when the time comes, however Stan had no individuals. He did not actually have a stunt double. What if Stan left me? I must depend on the precise calendar and The Climate Channel to inform me when spring would come.
Realizing he is good with sleepy woodchucks, I thought of calling Invoice Murray to see if he may come over and shake Stan up at simply the appropriate time. Nonetheless, I used to be anxious that if Invoice Murray got here by to see him, Stan would get a swollen head and assume he was a recognized woodchuck too, so I dropped that concept.
Then I bought a hunch. With so many well-known groundhogs on the market, it was doable that all groundhogs have a secret want to grow to be well-known? Are all of them ready to be found and hailed as the brand new Punxsutawney Phil, getting their very own film starring Invoice Murray and refusing to reply when somebody calls them a woodchuck?
I figured if this was true and Stan was a well-known groundhog wannabe then there was no downside.
When it was time to carry out, I simply rolled out a crimson carpet and stood round with a digital camera.
Tracy Beckerman is the writer of the Amazon Greatest Vendor, “Barking on the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,” accessible on Amazon and Barnes and Noble on-line! You’ll be able to go to her at www.tracybeckerman.com
Photograph credit score: Cairomoon on Pixabay
