Groundhog Day

Feb. 2, 2026

Well, the best laid plans …

I had this Groundhog Day mapped out perfectly.

Get on the road early, catch the sunrise in Orange Beach en route to Pensacola, and then onward to visit the Naval Aviation Museum – again. That’s because I barely scratched the surface of the museum when visiting last month.

I had my laptop, planning to do some writing from inside the museum’s café when my legs gave out. But not today, at least at the museum.

The museum was closed – thanks to another government shutdown. I learned that at the security gate. And since I try my best these days to avoid news when possible, I did not know this. Following the news as a journalist was my job for three decades. No longer.

But I called an audible.

Since I was already in Pensacola – with my laptop – I found a local coffee shop, The Drowsy Poet Coffee Company.

Listening to music instead of the news, though a close friend did inform me that Punxsutawney Phil did indeed see his shadow this Groundhog Day. Six more weeks of winter, apparently.

It was 29 degrees when I left the Orange Beach sunrise. More of that?

Nevertheless, I grabbed a coffee, and set up my laptop inside the Drowsy Poet. The temp – it’s climbed 20 degrees to 49. The earbuds in place and the music back on. This song comes on – “The Boys of Summer,” her favorite.

Maybe that’s her saying, “It’s fine, have coffee and write.”

Maybe so.

Maybe this plan was rewritten on purpose. Maybe this map will be revisited.

Some days are worth repeating.