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February 2 — Groundhog Day
Let me tell you about the second most famous groundhog in PA
Today is Groundhog Day, which my friend called the stupidest holiday because the groundhog is only correct 40% of the time. She is wrong. It is not the stupidest holiday because the stupidest holiday does not exist.
But I’m not here to talk about Punxsutawney Phil, though, because despite living in Pennsylvania for the majority of my life, I’ve never seen Phil.
I know. I’m embarrassed about it as well.
The groundhog I am more familiar with is Gus. Who bestowed on himself the title “second most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania.”
What? You don’t know Gus?
Gus is the mascot of the Pennsylvania Lottery. And he appears in pretty much every commercial, touting his second-place ranking. And I can hear his voice in my head as I write this. He is annoying, but that is what effective advertising is often about, so I hear.
Now I wonder if other states also have mascots for their lottery. Does Maryland have an Oriole? Does California have Marty, the mountain lion? (Gosh, I hope so.) Maybe, Rachel, the rattlesnake is for the lottery in Arizona? If there is an Alicia, the alligator, down in Florida, I am buying a ticket the next time I am there.
But for us Pennsylvanians, we have Gus. The happiest second-place groundhog a state could have.
Happy Groundhog Day, everyone; stay warm this weekend.