This would all be moot if his favorite holiday was something normal like CHRISTMAS

I warn people in my bio that my memory cannot be trusted. But that sentence is actually a public acknowledgement made for the benefit of my husband's world-weary eyes. I really don't forget EVERYTHING like he'd have you believe if given the opportunity to discuss the topic. As a matter of fact, I have some very lovely memories tucked in the nethers of my vacuous head that I enjoy retrieving quite regularly. I cradle them in my arms, petting them gently as I admire their precious clarity and staying power. But I concede that if my memory were made of cloth, mine would probably be cotton, possibly a little sun-bleached, definitely marked with notable holes of varying breadth. It wouldn't do much in the way of keeping you warm through the winter, to be sure. But there'd still be some SUBSTANCE.

Having said that, it's unfortunate that I forget protocol every single Groundhog Day. Protocol involves first REMEMBERING that it is Allan's favorite holiday. Then it involves REMEMBERING when said holiday occurs. Then I must remember to say, "Happy Groundhog Day!" Lastly, it involves remembering that the joyous occasion is celebrated in the form of a day off from work.

This might be a non-issue if we actually lived together and had small talk wherein both parties could exchange those oft taken for granted trivialities like, "You know, I think I'll celebrate Groundhog Day this year by installing curtain rods and vacuuming the basement." But, alas, we don't live together and phone conversations are like time with a lawyer whose being paid by the hour. We need to CULL THE CRAP. Because don't you just know that someone will invariably need a pencil pulled out of their eyeball if we talk on the phone for a few hours. So barring any emergencies, there are two real phone calls --morning and evening. I've taken to keeping a notepad handy so that I can remember something remarkable I'd like to share later... something like, hey, I unclogged my bathtub's drain without the aid of a plumber! WOOT! We don't do text messaging, agreeing that it's probably meant for people with young, fresh eyes and nimble fingers... Email is not a reliable way of exchanging information with him, either, because he might go two or three days without checking it -- which we all know may as well be a LIFETIME if you wanna share something relevant to TODAY. He's not into online social networking or things like instant messaging... So the notepad it is.

Late last night, my buddy the notepad reminded me that Groundhog Day had arrived. It reminded me that I needed to call him and wish him a Happy Groundhog Day. But it forgot to mention that I should call him on his cell phone because he wouldn't be at work this morning. Luckily, I backed up my phone call with an email just in case he thought to check it before our children awoke. He did. He retrieved the message at six o'clock then responded with the following:

Thank you!! For all the exciting details go to: http://www.groundhog.org/

Feel free to check out for yourself whether or not Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. I'd just come out and tell you ... if only I could remember.

I know it's basically over now, but Happy Groundhog Day, everyone!