On Looking for a Sign

Some of us spend a lot of time looking for signs.  At least I know I do, especially on days like today.  Today is Ground Hog's Day.  Ponxatoney Phil from the arms of the mayor of that small town in Pennsylvania either sees his shadow or he doesn't.  We take that as a sign.  If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.  If he does not, there will be an early spring.  Some folk put a lot of stock in that.  Even in the light of the statistics showing he is right only 39% of the time.  Some of us want to believe.  I know I do.

One thing I wonder about the Phil legend is that it seems counter-intuitive that if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.  If he sees his shadow, doesn't that mean the sun is shining?  And if the sun is shining, wouldn't that portend an early spring much more than an overcast sky?  And by the way, most people don't stop to think that spring according to the calendar and flow of the seasons, is officially about six weeks away anyway!

I know I hate not knowing what lies ahead sometimes.  I was signs that things are going to work out just fine.  Funny thing, sign or not, things to generally work out.  Yes, they don't always work out the way we would hope.  But like my grandfather used to say, "Any day I wake up in the morning, well that's a good day."  Really, I don't think I really want to know what's coming down the pike.  Knowing myself, I would spend an awful amount of time thinking about what's ahead and not living in the present.  I would end up missing life as it passes by.  There will always be signs.  But signs are open to interpretation.  We can always put our own spin on signs.  And so the signs are better seen in hindsight.  There were always indications of the way things were headed.  

So today Ponxatoney Phil did see his shadow.  A nice day ahead in Pennsylvania.  Good for the local economy as they have a fair and celebration, etc.  Even better it is Super Bowl Sunday.  Is there a sign in that?   I don't know.  Just a coincidence I suppose.   And when it gets down to it, that is what much of life is: a series of coincidences and signs of things to come.  

I for one will take it for what its worth and move on.  There's too much going on in the here and now to worry too much about signs of things to come.   Yet, it is good to pay heed.  Now is the only time we have to affect tommorrow.  Hands folded.  

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