Thank God our state senators were willing to forego time at home in order to finished important state business, including the crucial Senate bill 114.Who knows what devastation might have resulting had they not agreed to name:
- Carle's Bratwurst of Bucyrus the official state sandwich.
- The bullfrog, (Rana catesbeiana) the official state amphibian.
- Robert McCloskey's book Lentil the official state children's book, and Robert the official children's book author of Ohio. (Sorry, all you other writers. Maybe next year.)
- The tomato as the official state fruit.
- The pawpaw as the official state native fruit. ("Picking up pawpaws, put them in your pocket, save them for a rainy day,"- my candidate for official state native fruit song.)
- October as German Heritage Month. Every walk must be swept. Pork must be served. The squeal of accordions will peal across the Ohio countryside.
- May as 2nd Chance of Life: Saving Babies, Supporting Families Month. The message here seems a bit unclear to me.
- May is also Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, i.e., "Who would have imagined riding drunk without a helmet could be dangerous month."
- The 21st of December is now "Homeless Persons' Memorial Day." Do you suppose there's a connection between our ambivalence about the homeless and the fact that that this falls on the shortest day of the year? I wonder if Hallmark makes a card for this yet.
- The 15th of November is now Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Day I hope I can last till then.
- The 29th of April is Dale Earnhardt Day. I would have thought it would be the 8th of some month.
- The 1400-mile Buckeye Trail is now the official state trail and the Serpent Mound our official effigy mound. Take that, Tarelton Cross.
If I ever have a day named after me, make it February 29th.
(Update 12/23- the Senate unexpectedly failed to pass this bill. Reports suggest some controversy over the bullfrog and the pawpaw. Only in Ohio!)
