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.