One Brick Short

The Associated Press tells us that the slogan “Virginia is for Lovers” has hit its middle age, but it’s still going strong, helping The Commonwealth pull in about $19 bill a year, almost enough to bailout GM.

It seems the catchy phrase, which no doubt has been the endless butt of countless middle-schoolers and most likely parodied on various Websites, is 40 years old. That makes it 10 years younger than me and far more famous and well-known.

“McKenzie is for lovers” never really made it off the ground, I’m afraid.

Anyway, surrounded by paparazzi, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Wednesday partied with the slogan in the VIP room of the General Assembly. The party lasted well into the night, proof of why the slogan has far out-lasted other tourism catch-phrases such as “Oklahoma is OK”—an overstatement if there ever was one—and “Say yes! to Michigan,“ a state to which most Congressional leaders and politicos seem to find it easy to just say no.

Kaine says the slogan is an American classic that connects with travelers of every generation. It only makes sense. After all, love is something we all need and lovers are something we all want and if we can travel to Virginia and find love—or at least lovers—our vacation is, like, totally hot, dude!

Unfortunately, other states have tried to jump on the Virginia bandwagon and missed horribly. For instances:

California is for nuts, fruits and flakes!
Colorado: Check out our peaks!
Wyoming: Howdy!
Montana: Hello? Anybody out there?
Alaska: Yow, is that really Russia right over there, eh?
Washington State: Skinny, double-shot, no whip.
Oregon: Where the hell are we, anyway?
Minnesota: Cold enough for ya!
North Dakota: Gateway to Canada!
New York: Get outta da way!
New Jersey: We’re your godfather!
Connecticut: Spend your money and then leave!
North Carolina: A valley of humility between mountains of conceit.

Some states are changing their sloganic tunes: “Oklahoma is still here!“ for instance or Florida’s “sand, wind, condos and one large mouse.“

Then, of course, there’s the new Michigan catch-phrase being placed on freeway signs at the state line: “Please turn off the lights.“

Personally, I prefer the lovers.