Groundhog Day in Georgia

02.02.2008

It's Groundhog's Eve, everyone! Are you as excited as I am? I doubt it. LOL!

I love Groundhog Day--and as we wait for the big day to dawn, I thought I'd share some memories from last year. (Back in 2002, I was able to see THE Groundhog--Punxsutawney Phil--on 02.02.02 (the "Phillennium"), but I need to scan some photos from that trip. It was awesome!)



Anyway, last year, my sister Robin and her family came down for the weekend. Groundhog Day was on Saturday, so it was the perfect opportunity to drive over to Yellow River Game Ranch in nearby Lilburn. That's where Georgia's resident groundhog, General Beauregard Lee, lives. And that is where, every Feb. 2, he prognosticates: Will it be a an early spring ... or will we endure six more weeks of winter? Only time--and the groundhog--can tell. (wink, wink)

So on Groundhog's Eve last year ... my sister and I had stayed up pretty late. I had decided to make some signs to take to the next morning's festivities, so she was helping me print them up, etc. (Her two girls, Rebekah and Riley, even helped come up with some of the sign sayings.) Anyway, she had just gone to bed, and I was finishing up the signs when the fire alarm in our building went off. I am guessing this was around 2 or 3 a.m.

Well, I checked the hallway and definitely smelled something. We were definitely going to have to leave the building. We got the girls--and Kate, who was six months old at the time--bundled up and made our way down the stairs. We had just made it to the bottom when the alarm was cut off, and we were told we could go back upstairs. (Someone had burnt something on the stove. It must have been pretty charred!)

By the time we got back to our place and got everyone settled, I decided that it would be easier for me to just stay up rather than try to get any sleep. After all, we were going to have to leave to see the groundhog in just an hour or two at the most. So up I stayed. I finished up all the signs and got all of our gear together to go.



I can't remember what time we left. 5:30? 6? Whenever it was, we made it there with plenty of time to see the groundhog's debut on his special day. And then some. See, here in Georgia, the keepers of the groundhog do not adhere to a schedule when it comes to the shadow/no shadow ceremony. And that is too bad.



The problem was ... No one could tell when Gen. Lee would make his appearance. Attempts were made to lure him out with food and chants, etc., but it was really up to him to come out and greet his guests. And frankly, he was being rude. ;o)

In fact, I don't think any of us actually saw him emerge from his little house. I had gone back to the entry building to feed Kate. I think Tanna had come to check on us, and the rest of our party started walking around to try to warm up a bit. This was after we had been standing out in the cold for far too long. Unfortunately, it made for a very unpleasant experience. It actually pains me to write this because I had been really, really looking forward to seeing the Georgia groundhog, and I wanted it to be a lot more fun. And it could have been if there had been a groundhog handler to physically bring Gen. Lee out at a certain time (sunrise?), so folks would have an idea of how long they would be waiting around. (I don't know if this is possible with the setup they have there, but it is worth looking into if you are thinking of holding a groundhog event with an actual groundhog.)



Anyway, this is a very kid friendly place and a great event for older kids--but the waiting around is not kid friendly at all. Maybe last year was just a fluke and Gen. Lee is usually a little more punctual. I'd like to think so. ;o) Maybe I am spoiled from having seen the ever-punctual Punxsutawney Phil in the past. I don't know. (BTW, Phil gets some help with his timeliness from his handlers--you know the men in the top hats who are members of the legendary Inner Circle.)

By the way, if you decide to go see the Georgia groundhog, you can get in free between the hours of 6 and 8 a.m. on Groundhog Day--but after 8, you cannot leave and try to get back in without paying (even if you leave at 7:50 and try to get back in at 8:01 ... or if you just want to get something out of your car or use the restroom, etc.). At least, that's how it was last year. I could say more, but I will just leave it at that.



I am still glad we went to see the groundhog last year. It was a very memorable experience. My boss and his family were there, too, so it was great to see them. And it was fun to be around other folks who were just as nuts as we were--I mean ... who in their right minds would come out in the pre-dawn, freezing cold to see, as my BIL likes to say, a rat come out of a hole?

Yeah, we ain't right, but that's OK. Happy Groundhog Day!

_______

Here are some pics from last year:















P.S. Don't forget to wear brown!