Blacktip Island residents will celebrate Groundhog Day today by repeating their Thursday actions and conversations. (photo courtesy of Anthony Quintano)
Blacktip Island residents will celebrate Groundhog Day today by repeating their actions and conversations of the day before as a community-strengthening event, organizers said.
“Blacktippers do this naturally every day, but we decided to really draw attention to it today to pull the community together,” Blacktip Island Chamber of Commerce president Harry Wrasse said. “End of the day, there’s not a lot to do or talk about here, so almost everything gets repeated ad nauseum. Some folks call it repetition. We just call it ‘Monday.’ Or ‘Tuesday.’ Or ‘Wednesday.’
“By celebrating it, we get everyone focused on what it means to exist in this particular time and place,” Wrasse said. “This is one of the things that makes Blacktip unique. It’s actually quite handy—I can walk into the Last Ballyhoo bar and tell you exactly who’s talking about what at a glance. And who’s sitting where, with who, before I even walk in the door.”
Residents say celebrating the repetition will be beneficial.
“A while back, to save time, a bunch of us numbered all the possible conversations,” Marissa Graysby sad. “Instead of babbling at each other, we’d just say the number, and the other person would respond with a similarly-numbered response. That got boring, though, so this is a great way to get folks repeating themselves again.
“It’s comforting, really, knowing exactly what’s gonna happen next,” Graysby said. “You get off this island, you’re never sure what’s gonna happen. Even if you don’t strictly need to have the conversation, you have it anyway out of politeness. And respect.”
The celebration will feature food and drink stands around the island’s Heritage House.
“We’ve asked all the island restaurants and dining rooms to set up stands with the same food they serve every day,” Rusty Bollard said. “And we’re asking people to eat the same things they ate on Thursday. There should be no surprises for anyone. With any luck, today’s events should blur into yesterday’s. Except the food stands themselves.
“We’ll also have a groundhog-costume contest for the kiddos,” Bollard said. “And, later in the day, a greased iguana rodeo to let the little tykes burn off some calories. Oh, and live music’ll be provided by local favorites The Social Morays, TURTLE!!!!, and Young Jacques and the Double Hose.”
Wrasse noted there was concern among event organizers about its potential downside.
“The big worry is by shining a spotlight on an everyday thing, we risk ruining that thing,” he said. “Folks may get here and feel awkward and not talk at all, essentially take us a step back as a community. Me, though, I think it’ll be a home run. And if it does prove popular, we’ll do it again the next day. And maybe the day after that, too.”
The Blacktip Times 