Prepare for the Great American Holiday

So, in case you haven’t walked out of your front door recently, here’s some news for you.

It’s been cold. Colder than I remember it being around this time for the past couple of years.

Now, I love the cold. I like wearing cute winter clothes (when I feel like it), and I sleep better when it’s cold.

Overall, I just enjoy it when there’s a bit of a nip in the air. What I have a problem with is the constant ups and downs that have been happening with the temperature during this wintry season.

The dropping to what feels like -46 degrees one day to being 67 another day is getting to be quite old. If it’s going to be cold, can the weather just be consistently cold?

Now, I bring up the cold weather because I’m mentally preparing for an upcoming holiday of great importance: Groundhog Day.

This is the day where the magical weather predicting abilities of an animal who is apparently scared of its own shadow are their most powerful.

It’s on this day that we learn whether we have six more weeks of winter or spring weather is near.

Just for your information, Punxsutawney Phil, the magical groundhog in question, has been correct 50 percent of the time about the weather over the past 10 years, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

So, a crowd of people, including representatives of news conglomerates and men wearing funny hats to preserve the historical relevance, will come together on Feb. 2 in a town in Pennsylvania to watch an animal look at it’s shadow.

Humans are funny.

If we get spring weather a little earlier this year, get prepared for the return of sniffles and colds.

Just in general, make sure to take care of your health because this flu season has been particularly nasty, so wash your hands, cover your cough, don’t kiss sick people, etc.

Maybe drink some extra orange juice while you’re at it.

Go on and get those light fabrics out. Put the heavy jackets up and break out the sweaters or cardigans, something that isn’t as heavy but will keep you warm during early-hour cooler weather.

Start planning beach time, if you’re into that sort of thing. Beach season will get here sooner than you think.

If we get colder weather for the next few weeks, well, still keep up with your health.

Keep a heavier jacket or two. Also, keep out a few cute sweaters and long sleeve shirts.

Still plan your beach trips. That will be a beacon of light for some (many) of you to make it through those last days of the cold.

Finally, make cozy memories with family and friends. Have a hot cocoa party, and watch movies while curling up with a blanket.

Those are my suggestions on how to deal with the predictions of the groundhog.

May the next six (or eight weeks) be ever in your favor.

Cassie Gibbs is a staff writer for The Southeast Sun and Daleville Sun-Courier. The opinions of this writer are her own and not the opinion of the paper. She can be reached at (334) 393-2969 or by email at [email protected].