Mid-winter delights...

How the time does go by. Since my last post, we have had a Super Bowl party, celebrated Groundhog day (complete with pork sausage, and Bill Murray), and enjoyed a picnic by the Clackamas river. It has been a good week.

Sunday's Super Bowl party was a smashing success. Eight of the ten members of our Bible study group were here. Two of the ladies were unable to attend, one due to a family commitment and one due to an injured shoulder. We never did take a poll to determine how many Arizona fans and how many Pittsburgh fans were in the group. No one was interested in wagering on the game, so we simply enjoyed in order of importance, one another's company, a fine spread of comestibles and potables, the annual roll-out of amusing commercials, and the game. I do believe that by the time it was over, the consensus was that, whereas the best team won, it was difficult to watch the underdog come from behind to take a late lead, only to lose it in the final minute and forty-seven seconds.

Monday, of course, was Groundhog Day, the history of which is unclear to me. Nevertheless, the annual rite of observing Punxsatawney Phil emerging from his lair in frigid Pennsylvania illustrates once again man's eternal optimism and his superstition: optimism, because we want to believe that if Phil does NOT "see his shadow," this would actually hasten the advent of spring; and superstition because we humans, as much as we tend to deny the existence of a supreme being, are pretty certain that something out there is controlling the things over which we feel powerless. To wit: the changing of the seasons.

Jill and I were not blessed with time to watch Bill Murray ride the merry-go-round of endless repeats of Groundhog day on Monday, but we did take it in yesterday. And to be quite honest, we didn't have any pork sausage (ground hog), but I did suggest it. Nevertheless, I believe we determined that winter will end on March 21st.

Today was one of those glorious February days in Oregon that we get from time to time. The temperature actually topped 60 degrees farenheit. The sky was cloudless and azure, and we had time on our hands. So, we got Sadie, our venerable motor home, out of storage and drove her out to Milo McIver State Park for a picnic. Since Sadie had been in storage for a couple of months, I wanted to exercise her mechanicals and to run the 6.5 KW Onan generator that is on board. It was a beautiful day for a drive in the country. We had a lovely stroll by the Clackamas river and around the grounds of the fish hatchery in the park. On our way out of the park, we stopped at the off leash dog area and let Pogo run. It was with some sadness, but a great deal of satisfaction, that we returned Sadie to her home away from home.

So, rest easy, Phil. Enjoy a long winter's nap. We will be here waiting for your return and for the end of winter on the vernal equinox. Is it really still six weeks away?