In honor of Joan Smith Grey’s birthday, we offer a GUEST POST by her husband, Dan Grey.

As I was reading the Washington Post on January 28^th, I saw an article stating “Extreme cold spell shaping up as one of DC’s longest in 150 years…  An extreme cold spell could last beyond Groundhog Day.”  As legend goes, the ground hog, Punxsutawney Phil, comes out of hibernation on February 2^nd.  If he sees his shadow, he returns to his den, and there will be six more weeks of winter.  If he doesn’t see his shadow, there will be an early spring.  This year, it might be too cold for Phil to come out and determine whether he can see his shadow.

In the movie, “Groundhog Day,” Bill Murray’s character stays stuck in the Groundhog Day loop because he cannot change his selfish, arrogant ways. This is the essence of the “Groundhog Day” metaphor. However, it is not about living the same day over and over until it changes, it is about changing your life by changing yourself.

Most people connect February 2^nd with Groundhog Day, but February 2^nd, or thereabouts, is also St. Brigid’s Day (Imbolc), or the halfway point between the solstice and the equinox, and for the ancient Celts, the beginning of spring.  In fact, February 2^nd, 2026, is a public holiday in Ireland to celebrate Imbolc / St. Brigid’s Day.  It is appropriate that the Irish celebrate that day because the main connection I have with February 2^nd is my Irish wife’s birthday.  I had the good fortune of celebrating 42 of Joan’s birthdays with her while we were married, and this year it will mark the 4^th birthday since she passed away.  Yes, I miss her every day, but the days leading to her birthday are especially difficult.

In Joan’s book, Good Goodbyes, she quotes Dr. Seuss, “Don’t cry because it’s over.  Smile because it happened.”  You cannot remove the wonderful memories I have from our time together.  I am truly the luckiest man in the world to have had the time I had with Joan.  Of course, I wish it could have been longer.  Yes, there are tears in my eyes as I write this, so I opine that Dr. Seuss didn’t quite get it right.  I think it is okay both to cry because it’s over and smile because it happened.

Joan’s legacy remains.  She guides me every day, and I’ve talked to many others who feel the same.  She was a guiding example of how to live a loving and caring life.  If anybody could show you how to positively change your life, it was Joan.  If Joan had portrayed Bill Murray’s character in the “Groundhog Day” movie, it would have been very different.

I will be forever grateful for the good goodbye Joan gave me and others.  It is hard enough to grieve the loss of a loved one, best friend, and confidante, but it would be much more difficult if you also need to worry about getting all the finance, personal, and numerous other end of life issues together for a loved one when she dies.  That was a special gift she left me and others.  If you haven’t read Joan’s book, please read it.  If you have, I recommend you read it again so you can give your loved ones the best possible goodbye as well.
On February 2^nd, please think of Joan who would turn 69.  While she won’t be there in the flesh, she will be there in spirit!  In the warmth of Amman Jordan, where I will spend the day this year, I expect to see many butterflies.  Enjoy St. Brigid Day!

© Dan Grey, Feb 2, 2026 INDEXCARDCURE™ love is the legacy