My daughter was born on Ground Hog’s Day. Several years ago she experienced what I call her “Great Adventure.” Right after graduating from college she moved to California. When her birthday came, I felt she needed a bit of home-grown nostalgia to cheer her on for her special day. I also wanted to tell her that I had finally gotten a computer and e-mail address so we could keep in better touch. In a delusional moment, probably because I missed her so much that particular birthday, I penned and mailed her the following letter:
My Fellow Groundhogs:
In honor of your special day I am reaching into the future, (the future is now) to embrace the newest technology available. Yes, the internet has finally arrived in the burrow. My home (read hole in the ground) was wired just last week, and already it has changed the way we groundhogs will do business forever.
Sleeping all winter is a thing of the past. Maps, upper air flow charts and satellite cameras are in front of our beady little eyes at the click of a mouse. (Eek! There’s a mouse in my burrow!)
The pancake breakfast can be co-ordinated effortlessly–orders can be customized for those smelly, hairless 2-legged creatures that make the pilgramage every year to worship at our feet. Excuse me, where was I? Oh, yes. The internet.
Directions to Punxsutawney can be printed–in color–and birthday cakes can be ordered on-line for all extra special groundhogs.
Pass this letter on to 10 of your closest groundhog friends and you will have Groundhog love forever. If you are lucky enough to have been born on this day, you have special dispensation to skip the “pass this letter on part”.
You will have my groundhog love forever.
Happy Birthday,
Punxsutawney Phyllis
Needless to say, all I got was an “Aw, Mom” and eyes rolling ( at least that’s what it sounded like over the phone), but it was a birthday card she has never forgotten.
Filed under: Learning Curve | Tagged: Ground Hog's Day, Happy Birthday
