All you really have to do is look around.

I have had a couple of big travel adventures recently.  And I’ve seen amazing things.

But right here today, at my very own home, I was in the company of some great friends… sharing tasty food… and having a pretty darn good time.

And this evening I took a nice walk and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the neighborhood.  There were the usual suspects about… lots of plants, trees, and foliage.  There was plenty of wildlife.   Birds, insects, bunnies, and such.  But then… but then… what did my eyes see?  Actually… what did my ears hear?

Well.  I heard just this.  “Hey.  You…over there… you thick headed human.  Do you have any idea how much wood I can chuck?  Well…. DOOOOOOO Yoooouuuuu?   How much wood do you think I could chuck…. say…. if in fact I could chuck wood.  Which… I can.  You don’t have any idea do you?”

I looked over… slowly.  And there. Up in the tree was Gary, the world-famous groundhog.  My jaw dropped.  My mouth hung wide open.  Of course I looked like a thick headed human… standing there speechless.

BUT… I had only READ about Gary in the tabloids and such.  And here he was… chucking wood right in our front yard.  I just couldn’t believe my eyes.

“Mr. Groundhog.  Can I call you Gary?  The pleasure is all mine.”

As it turns out… Gary was the nicest dang woodchuck you could every meet in all your days.  We strolled down to the creek and gnawed on a Maple for a while.  I offered him a Diet Coke… but he opted to lap right out of the pond.

We had a great afternoon.  And believe it or not.. that dude is famous for good reason.  He is quite the handsome Marmot.  And wow… can he EVER chuck wood.

At any rate… we parted ways.  His only message for the masses was this: “Punxsutawney Phil is a fake.”  From what Gary says….  he has NO idea about weather forecasting.  Turns out… he is a retired bus driver from Philadelphia with a wife and four kids.

So…. Yep.  A good day indeed.   I spent time with friends.  Ate great chicken.  I met Gary.  And. Beauty abounds everywhere.  From the soil beneath my feet to the sky up above.  And especially in the trees.

“Philosophy begins in wonder. And, at the end, when philosophic thought has done its best, the wonder remains.”  –   Alfred North Whitehead