A Long, Cold Winter

'Cause this winter looks like

Its gonna be another bad one

But Spring'll soon be here,

Oh God, I hope it's not late.

"The Roof is Leaking"

-Genesis

Dear Phil: 

I understand that today is your big day, especially (one might say frighteningly) so in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.  This year, however, we need you to sit this one out.  We cannot risk you popping your head out of your hole, seeing your own shadow, and inflicting six more weeks of winter upon us.  We simply cannot.

Here is the thing.  This request has nothing at all to do with this past weekend's weather.  Not a damn thing.  Around here, we have an expression for weather like that which we experienced last weekend.  That expression?  "January in Jersey".  

Instead, it has everything to do with the fact that this winter has been far too long already.  The toll it has exacted to date has been far too high.  Yet, today, it shall take a great deal more.  For today, 5th Avenue in Manhattan outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral shall once again be a sea of love, adorned in blue.  Today, Police Officer Wilbert Mora, partner of slain Police Officer (now Detective) Jason Rivera, shall be honored, remembered, and laid to rest as his partner from the 32nd Precinct was this past Friday.  

Let us not prolong this hard winter a minute longer than we must, Phil.  Provide Officer Mora's family, those he loved, and those who loved him most of all, including his brothers and sisters in blue, with a bit of hope in these darkest of days.  Provide them with the promise of Spring and its inherent warmth.  Provide it to them as quickly as possible. 

And I hope it is not too late.   

-AK