Groundhog Day et al!

Hey, are you thinking about Bill Murray right now?  Are you wondering what repeating a day might do for you?  Are you celebrating the thought of an early spring?  Are you frowning quizzically at the screen asking, "Groundhog Day, really?"?  Yeah, I know what you mean, but I love our little quirky traditions, especially those that hurt no one and bring commerce and a spot of fun to a tiny town now and then.  Punxsutawney Phil and his shadow indicate an early spring.  I'm thinking we'll take that and run with it.  So, what's next?  Well, February offers so many colorful and varied opportunities.  From the sweetness of Valentine's Day to the revelry of Mardi Gras to the self-sacrifice of Lent to respectful remembrance of Presidents' Day and sometimes its very own Leap Day (not this year), we've got it goin' on, so to speak.  Heck, if we choose, we might even have a Super Bowl Party planned.  Ahhhh, that's the key; we can choose.  Don't like a holiday?  Don't celebrate.  Don't even pay attention to it, but don't rain on our parade either.  Some of us are always looking for a reason to to be sweet, to stop and think, to give credit, to express our feelings, to PARTAY, as they say.  Yes, I know some "manufactured" holidays come with pressure, but you can handle that with a talk and an agreement on HOW to celebrate.  See?  Communication makes a difference (said the English teacher in me).  I'm always up for a holiday, and I know for a fact we don't HAVE to spend big bucks to honor the spirit, the joy, the emotion connected with any of our little festivals and memorials.  Break out the hearts, the beads, the flags, the cards, the snacks and music and gather our friends and family while we can...or at the very least give them shout out on various occasions.  Commercialism?  Pressure?  A Monday off for whatever the reason?  Hey, make it your own mini holiday.  Reach out to loved ones and the peeps that bring you smiles every day.  Phil and his groundhog buddies salute you with or without their shadows.

Holy absence, Batman!  I have fallen way behind on my blogging.  Life does happen, and I am having a plethora of fun.  Noneless, if I'm going to have a blog, I need to get with it.  Here we go with a blog entry about getting back to blogging.  Actually, this can serve as a metaphor illustrating the worth of picking back up rather than giving up.  Yeah, yeah...me and my metaphors.  When I created three blogs in one day (ambitious to say the least), I really believed I could keep up.  I've had plenty to say, but I haven't taken the time to organize my thoughts into a post.  Perhaps, I'm asking too much of myself.  No post requires a certain amount of words or even a deep philosophical point.  After all, I find joy and humor and vital lessons in everyday happenings and ordinary circumstances, so why not just talk about it.  Who knows?  Maybe people can relate or at least start looking harder for the positives all around us.  Lord knows some of the talking heads focus on negatives almost every day.  How miserable must they be.  I do understand being realistic and aware and prepared for problems and obstacles, but if we can face them all with a hopeful heart and an inherent knowledge that we can at least tackle each challenge with strength and possibility, isn't that beneficial?  Yes, I'm somewhat of a pixie in this crazy ol' sometimes troglodyte world, but I see evidence of generous hearts, caring spirits, and unfaltering optimists every single day.  Why not shine more light on them?  So, with that upbeat thought in this giddy little mind, I say, "Hello again, my faithful followers.  Thanks for staying with me."  Hey, perhaps I'll have a few more peeps take a chance on me.  (Are you singing the ABBA song?)  If I could leave people singing now and then, that would make me happy.  Welcome to February!