•     •     •

You know, there’s a law to cover just about everything. I mean needed or not. For example, it takes a complete, single-spaced typed page of the state’s Government Code just to give an official — color, dimensions, design — description of California’s Bear Flag.

Subsequent sections of that same Government Code cover such vital matters as the official state folk dance (West Coast Swing), song (“I Love You, California”), reptile (desert tortoise), avifaunal emblem and bird (valley quail), tall ship (“The Californian”), insect (dogface butterfly), lithologic emblem and rock (serpentine), gemstone (benitoite), marine fish (garibaldi) … well, there are others, but you get the idea.

I could even go along with an official state dirt — San Joaquin soil — but I had no idea there is an official State Tartan, as defined in Government Code Section 424.3.

According to the code, “it may be claimed by any resident of the state.” This should come as welcome news to those whose ethnic background is Portuguese, Hispanic, Croatian, Polish, Lithuanian, Japanese, Swahili, Patagonian or anything else other than Scots (although one must presume it was a Scot who rammed this through the Legislature).

Colors? Well there’s a combination, including meadow green, Pacific blue, charcoal, gold, redwood and sky blue.

Without even seeing the pattern, I don’t think it’s enough to get me to buy a kilt and sign up for bagpipe lessons.

•     •     •

You may wonder why an event labeled “Beer and Baseball” is being planned for Friday, July 9, in the Old City Cemetery at 10th and Broadway, but consider: Not only are many pioneer ball players, hop growers and brewers buried there, but it’s right across the street from the site of Sacramento’s historic Moreing/Cardinal/ Edmonds Field.

Not only that, but it’s just two days short of the 56th anniversary of the July 11, 1948, fire that claimed the old ball yard. Authorities put the blame on a carelessly discarded smoldering cigarette. Given where the fire started and where I was seated that day, I’ve always harbored the guilty feeling that I was the firebug. Thank God for the statute of limitations!

But back to the coming party. While those attending are enjoying peanuts, pretzels, hotdogs and samples of microbrewed beer, they’ll be hearing how beer, by supplanting hard liquor, helped civilize the sport and made it family friendly. Not only that, but they’ll be helping raise funds for the continuing restoration of the historic burial ground.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. and the cost is $15 a person. Reservations are necessary and may be made by calling (916) 448-0811 or (916) 399-8063.

•     •     •

Ray Oliver, former head honcho of the McClellan Air Force Base history office and museum, says a recent item about surgery done on nether regions “struck a nerve and brought back my own painful memories.”

Ray says he had his surgery in Germany, where they lived in a small town, and “my wife had to blab my situation to everyone.”

“When I got out of the hospital and went for a walk, I had to hear a bunch of jokes, many in German,” he said.

“We lived in a town that still had many little shops. One had to stop at every store and at least say hello or ‘tag.’ And everyone had to tell me his or her joke.

“I was an honorary member of the ‘housemeister’s stamtich’ — which mostly meant I was allowed to buy several rounds — and they all had jokes.

“I suppose you know about the special drink for that condition: vodka and prune juice. It’s called a Pile Driver.”

I guess I should have seen that last one coming. Thanks, Ray.

•     •     •

New at the Towe Auto Museum, remaining until Aug. 14, is a display of vintage International Harvester tractors, a sight that would have gladdened my late dad’s eye and certainly will take me back to my childhood days when he worked at Emigh-Winchell Hardware and L.S. Quinan Co. and I used to delight in clambering all over the farm machinery on display.

Among the items at the Towe: a 1918 International Titan farm tractor, a 1920 International 8-16 kerosene tractor and a 1946 Farmall BN. Also included is a 1961 International Scout pickup.

The Towe is at 2200 Front St. Details at (916) 442-6802.


After retiring from a long and respected career with The Sacramento Bee, Stan Gilliam found that he just couldn't stop writing. So he brought his "Stan's Sacramento" column to the Spectrum, where it has been a favorite of readers for 15 years ... and counting.

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