He saw his shadow yesterday and now Punxsutawney Phil is predicting six more weeks of winter. Not exactly welcome news as residents across the Northeast, and much of the country, have been facing freezing temperatures and snow piled high.

Of course, it’s good news for the winter warriors: ski slopes, heating oil companies, outdoorsy-lovers and such. 

And, of course, the math doesn’t really make sense as it’s about six weeks until the first day of Spring on March 20. 

But still we cling to the tradition of that famous groundhog, and delight or dismay at his prophecies. 

Groundhog Day, observed each year on February 2, is a harbinger of spring. It falls on the midpoint between the shortest, darkest day of the year on the winter solstice and the spring equinox. 

The tradition has European roots and derives from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition. The lore was brought from Germany, where a badger gives the forecast. 

The science is not exactly solid, but there’s something to be said for the recognizing of tradition and the marking of time. 

Six weeks—depending on how you look at it—could be long or short. 

As anyone who has had a baby knows, those first two weeks seem to stretch on for two years. But when that baby turns 18 years old? Time is moving too fast.

All we really have is right now.