Dear Cousin Wiarton Willie,
Once again it is mid-winter and I want to keep in touch with all our Marmotian relatives here and there. Of course you are my favored cousin and always at the top of the list. Phyllis and I hope you and the family are all snug in your burrow, safe and sound, and well insulated from all that Polar Vortex air we are reading about.
Last Year
Luckily, we survived the year mostly in good health, without need to seek out professional help. As you may know, the health-care system is changing here and our trusted groundhog-insurance provider has just changed the contract. Also, our trusted groundhog-physician has decided to call it quits and we are still looking for a replacement. Figuring it all out will take some time.
Other than that, last year was relatively uneventful. The summer was quite comfortable, despite all the polar ice having melted (some say it has actually grown). Frankly, I don’t know whom or what to believe any more. Some scientists claim it’s getting colder because the climate is getting warmer or the other way around, the government wants us to turn down the thermostat to preserve energy (electricity rates are going up sharply as coal-fired power plants are closing) and the NGO’s want us to crawl back into our hole. Well, we are there already and not likely to get out of it for a while longer. Of course, that’s no problem when you live part time in Hawaii instead of Pennsylvania.
The wildflowers in our favored foraging meadow are less abundant now, however, the blueberries did well. So, overall we were able to gather a good supply for the larder.
This Year
As you know, each year brings new challenges or more of the old. Anyway, I heard our cousins in the Alps are having a good time. Their winter is mild and they surely deserve it after some bad years. But Mother Nature is not done yet. What I am really worrying about at this time are the sunspots. Some people say the sun has fallen asleep. I am not sure what it portends for us here in the Punxsutawney woods, but it sounds ominous.
Voices in the wilderness whisper yet more ominous sounds about the recent court ruling that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has “unlimited power to regulate the internet." Does this mean all the “smart” technology can now be turned off at will by our friends on the Hill?
Congress has recently passed another increase of the debt ceiling. Phyllis was wondering when some of that “new wealth” paper raining from the sky would come to rest at our burrow here. I had to disappoint her about that; that rain rarely hits our forest.
Phyllis said greens are dear at this time of year. I wasn’t sure what she was talking about. Listening to the voices on our old radio, there are more Greens than ever. The media are just full of them. Rarely a day goes by when one or another of the myriad of non-governmental organisations is not talking about a pending climate catastrophe and the need to “go green.” However, when I go outside, everything is white, no sign of green there. I wish winter would speed up a bit so that we can nibble on fresh greens.
The voices say that the state of the union is another subject of concern. The headmaster in his most recent speech claims it needs improving. I guess that means more taxes and regulations (the reception here isn’t good). Will have to wait and see; being underground much of the time has its benefits and drawbacks.
Now that we can no longer buy some of the incandescent light bulbs, we are starting to make more use of candles these days. Especially the candles made from bees wax really provide a pleasant aroma to the burrow, though not much light. I guess that’s what they mean by “smart” technology. If things don’t work out as (centrally) planned, just change the definitions of desirable and not so desirable.
As of late, voices in the wilderness also speak of a decline in the bee population. Most politicians who are hearing those voices think that there is a need for government action, like reducing the use of so-called neonicotinoids pesticides. However a local beekeeper I happen to be friends with for a long time says it’s not that straight forward as you may hear or read. Beating up them little bees with long trips for pollination makes them sick. I can feel for them, just going to downtown Punxsutawney drains my energy for the day.
Speaking of energy, that’s what appears to be missing all around. Luckily for us, our very own coal seam right below the burrow shows no sign of exhaustion. As you know, we have been using it for many years to furnish our heating requirements. However, the electricity is definitely getting greener (as in green bucks).
Anyway, I have rambled on long enough. Hope you and Mina and the offspring are fine. Wishing you a good year ahead, from the depths of Pennsylvania’s woods in Punxsutawney,
Phil and Phyllis
p.s.: Just poked my nose above ground; it’s still cold and snowing. Could you possibly ask the Canadian government to stop sending Polar Vortexes our way?
