Once Upon a Time: There was a Groundhog
Once upon a time, on a day known as the day after the day before, a groundhog was born. This was not just any groundhog. This groundhog was the furriest, cutest, wee groundhog ever to be born. She also was the happiest and in all the land, the tiniest. She was so very tiny that on occasion her mommy and daddy had difficulty finding her. It was for this reason that she was named, Speck.
Speck was her mommy and daddy’s very first baby groundhog and with that came a lot of firsts. Speck was their first groundhog baby that needed to be named, to be cuddled, to be fed, cradled and rocked to sleep each night while her mommy and daddy sang, in unison, a soothing lullaby.
Speck’s mommy and daddy delighted in their wee girl. They also delighted in themselves, proud and happy to be learning, doing and accomplishing so many firsts. One of these firsts included having dug their groundhog family hole also called a burrow. They had chosen Grammy’s Garden with reason. Grammy’s Garden, they had heard, was the safest and friendliest of all the gardens in the neighbourhood. Trusting this as fact, they dug their hole to have the narrowest opening to above ground and the widest space below ground. The narrow hole on top meant that other creatures, such as Gray Squirrel, could not come in. The widest space under ground meant that Speck had ample space within which to romp, twist, turn, rock and roll as she grew playing to her heart’s content. Deep inside her family’s burrow, Speck was safe and delightfully delightful.
Speck grew and grew and as she did, she wanted to venture forth, to stretch her legs and to dig her own holes in Grammy’s Garden. She wanted to feel the warmth of the sun on her fur and smell the gentle breezes that blew all around. Her mommy and daddy knew she was growing beyond them so very quickly. To prepare her for her own world, her mommy and daddy took her up top. They introduced her to the plants that grew in Grammy’s Garden and introduced her to delicious above-ground vegetables to eat. As Speck chomped and chewed on above-the-ground vegetables such as spinach leaves and celery, Speck grew big and strong. With her very first taste of succulent spinach, Speck said to her mommy and daddy, “This is where I want to be, forever.” Speck’s mommy and daddy felt so much joy and were so proud of their wee girl.
One day, as Speck continued to grow, she arose. She could tell that it was a bright, sunshiny day outside. Her mommy and daddy still were asleep. Speck had needed extra cuddling through the night leaving her mommy and daddy a wee more tired than usual this morning. Speck felt old enough to climb up and out from her family’s burrow to explore Grammy’s Garden on her own. It was a beautiful moment for her. She felt so grown up even though she had no idea how old she was. None of that age stuff seemed to matter to the groundhog family. There Speck was, outside her family’s burrow, in Grammy’s Garden, on her very first all alone adventure.
Speck delighted in the warmth of the sun on her fur. She smelled the breeze and became aware of the many plants whose leaves and blooms twisted and turned seemingly to greet her. She was familiar with many of the plants as her mommy and daddy spoke with them while she played but she had never spoken to any of them on her own. As with most adventures’ in life, typically there is a first time for everything. And so, it was on this day, the plants in Grammy’s Garden created a first for Speck. In unison they said, “Hello.”
Thereafter they took turns for they did not want to frighten Speck. They wanted to welcome Speck and to help her to feel comfortable. Sunflower, Rhubarb and Beet Leaf and Tomato Vine all welcomed Speck in the style of a gracious grace reflective of Grammy’s Garden.
Sunflower, being the tallest and the brightest flower in Grammy’s Garden, took the lead saying, “We are so very glad to see you. We are surprised however; to see you without your mommy and daddy. We did not realize that you were old enough to be out on your own. What is your name? How old are you?” Sunflower intended to be welcoming and yet sometimes she was bold without knowing.
Speck was feeling very independent. She also felt proud that she had found her own way out of her family’s burrow. She had been in the garden before and had watched her mommy and daddy greet the plants with a hello. She was not unsettled by the plants greeting.
“Hello, “responded Speck. “My name is Speck because I am so tiny. But that does not mean that I am a baby. My mommy and daddy are sleeping and I am big enough to find my way out of our family’s burrow and so here I am.”
Sunflower said, “What a beautiful name you have dear Speck. We are glad to meet you on your own.” Beet Leaf and Rhubarb each extended a stock towards Speck saying, “if you ever need a cover, you may crawl under one of our leaves. We are big plants and will keep you safe if you need shelter.” Tomato vine introduced herself saying, “Count on me, too, dear Speck. Welcome. If you ever cannot find your way back to your family’s groundhog hole, you simply let me know. I will point the way. We here in Grammy’s garden have a high alert signalling system. We want you to feel free to romp and roll and grow within our midst. To be free to be who you are, your own best self.”
Almost on cue, Spider descended from Sunflower’s Blossom. Spider greeted Speck saying, “Indeed, wee Speck, welcome. I once was lost and beet leaf and tomato vine helped me find my way home to Sunflower’s blossom where I live in my web. Ever since that day, I have been a member of the High Alert Signalling Team of Grammy’s Garden. Human’s would call us a neighbourhood watch. If you ever need help of any kind, simply let one of us know and we will protect you. We live together and we work together to make Grammy’s Garden one of the safest and coziest in the land. That is why your mommy and daddy dug their family burrow here. We are so happy that they did. They want the best for you. We knew your mommy and daddy were expecting a wee one but we did not know for certain when you were born. Welcome. We noticed you eating the spinach leaves and celery stalks however, we did not want to distract your mommy and daddy those first times they came with you to the surface. We did not want to ask them a lot of questions. It could seem rude. They had so much on their minds watching you to keep you safe. Can I ask? How old are you?”
Speck basked in the attention and felt so grown up to be welcomed by so many of her parent’s friends. She wanted to show how smart and grown up and ready she was to be on the surface of Grammy’s Garden without her mommy and daddy. She really did want to let them know how old she was but the honest to goodness truth was that she did not know. She had never asked because it simply had never been talked about in her family. She realized now that in groundhog life you did not count the days. You simply lived each minute of each day. Each minute was the bestest minute. Each day was the bestest day.
In Groundhog land you woke up, ate, brushed your teeth, fluffed your nest and then played and played and played some more. Brushing your teeth was very important because groundhogs rely upon their two big front teeth for just about everything. And, it was believed that the whiter your teeth the stronger you were. Groundhogs took much pride in the whiteness and sparkle of their two big front teeth.
In addition to their teeth, Speck had learned that groundhogs also take pride in cleanliness. Speck had learned that after she brushed her teeth, she was expected to fluff the leaves of the nest within which she slept. This was life in the groundhog world into which she had been born and now lived. What you did today is what you did yesterday and what you will do tomorrow. Some humans call this a routine. Certain things repeat themselves because they just are that important. Each day is regarded as the bestest day and because you took care of today as you took care of yesterday there is no need to worry or fret about tomorrow.
And so, it was that Speck realized that groundhogs and plants were different. She knew however; she also did not want to disappoint the plants. She wanted to be friendly. She too was curious about her age. Not wanting to displease the plants, Speck said, “my dear plants in Grammy’s Garden. I do not know how old I am but I am curious to know. I will ask my mommy and daddy and I will tell you the next time that I see you. Are you ok if I do?” Sunflower nodded her blossom which bounced Spider in agreement. Tomato Vine waved a high five salute and rhubarb and beet leaf jiggled their leaves in agreement. With that, Speck romped across Grammy’s Garden chomping on a spinach leaf before descending into her family’s burrow.
Ker plunk could be heard as Speck landed home. She was greeted by her mommy and daddy who, although worried, were so relieved to have her home they hugged her with love and joy in their hearts. Such acceptance caused Speck to feel so very proud and with that she opened and talked and talked and opened even more. She told her parents about the greeting she received from the plants in Grammy’s Garden. She told them about meeting Sunflower and Spider and Tomato Vine and Rhubarb and Beet Leaf. She told them about the High Alert Signalling Team that would protect her if she ever needed help. She wanted her mommy and daddy to know how accepted she felt in the company of the plants. She wanted her mommy and daddy to know that the plants in Grammy’s Garden cared about her, her safety and wellness. Speck’s mommy and daddy responded with more hugs. They were well pleased.
As time wore on, Speck said, “There is one thing mommy and daddy. I felt awkward when the plants asked me how old I was. I felt they were asking me something that I should know. I realized that I do not know how old I am. I do not recall ever having a birth day. How old am I, mommy and daddy?”
Mommy and Daddy Groundhog looked at each other in an odd way. They wanted to please their wee girl, Speck. They loved her. They could see how important the answer was to her. They did not want her to think they were keeping secrets. They did not want her to think that they did not love her because they had never celebrated her birth day. They did not want others to think they did not love their little girl. The truth was that they simply did not know. They realized then and there that they were facing cultural differences. They were uncertain how to explain such differences to their wee girl because they had not anticipated such questions. It felt like only yesterday that their wee girl was born. They wanted to explain such differences to Speck in a way that she could understand and accept their lives and the lives of the plants who had asked, unknowingly, a question that was sensitive culturally because of different ways of living life.
Mommy and Daddy Groundhog could tell Speck every detail of the day on which she was born.
Mommy Groundhog recalled having told Speck, “My girl, the moment that I saw and heard you take your first breath was the proudest moment of my life, dear Speck. I knew from that moment that you knew how to breathe and by knowing how to breathe you would breathe your way through challenges that arise. I knew that you would be ok for each and every Groundhog Day.”
Mommy and Daddy Groundhog also could tell her how very proud and excited they were to see her grow big and furry with bright, beautiful, shiny white teeth of which she took such good care. They could tell her she was all they ever wanted and that she was the most important groundhog in the whole wide world to them. But they had to think and think about how to answer the question that at this moment was so vitally important to her. The wanted to tell the truth which was that they did not know how old she was.
And so, they said, “Our dear, Speck. Our most beautiful girl. There is a central truth about the life you have been given and which we all live. The truth is that all creatures and plants in life are not the same. There are differences between each of us in Grammy’s Garden and that means that each of us pays attention to slightly different details of life. What I can tell you is that you were born the day after the day before. In groundhog life that is how we tell time.”
As groundhogs, we pay attention to each and every minute of each and every day. As each minute is lived and passes, we let it go because we’ve already moved into the next minute. We do not pay attention to which day or which year it is. We take care of each other as the minutes unfold. I cannot tell you on which day you were born other than to repeat it was the day after the day before. I can tell you however, that the minute you were born was a very happy minute and we have loved you each and every minute of each and every day since.
Please accept this as a central truth and value of Groundhog Life. It seems unique to Groundhog Culture and may not be understood or accepted by others. We will ask for the plants in Grammy’s Garden to accept this fact and to love you all the same just as you appreciate how they have extended themselves to you and you will respect their friendship and caring always. There are differences amongst us however; differences can unite us if we honor, love, respect and accept that each of us deserves to be treated with dignity. Our differences can contribute to much strength as we grow in learning about each other.
We love you dear Speck. The day after the day before was the bestest with the mostest. Happy Birthday, dear Speck. Each day is a day to celebrate being you; being us. Each day is a Birth Day. Let’s go in to Grammy’s Garden and spread the word. Today is your Birthday as was yesterday and as will be tomorrow.
And so, it was that Speck and her Groundhog mommy and daddy climbed up their groundhog hole and emerged into Grammy’s Garden. There they were greeted by Sunflower, Spider, Tomato Vine and Rhubarb and Beet Leaf amongst others. To all who listened, they announced, “Dear fellow occupants of Grammy’s Garden. This is our wee daughter, Speck. Please help us to welcome her and to celebrate her life with us. Today is the day that we honour her birth. Today is her birthday just as yesterday was and tomorrow will be. Every day is the day after the day before. We ask for each of us to honour our differences and our universe that brings us together. Happy Birthday to each of us including dear, wonderful, joyous Speck.” Let us sing.
And this is what they sang, “Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Speck. Happy Birthday to you…and many more.”
The End but also the Beginning as we carry on with love, hope, truth, laughter and Joy in our hearts.
Written for all with kindness from,
Grammy
