The Slice: These colors don’t run – from true love

I had intended to acknowledge Flag Day by listing the ways Washington’s banner is superior to the District of Columbia’s red and white flag.

1. Washington’s flag is not easily mistaken for the flags of Singapore, Indonesia, Northern Cyprus or Austria.

2. Washington, D.C.’s flag looks like the shoulder stripes of a staff sergeant in the Red Army.

3. George Washington’s head does not look generic.

And so on.

But it has come to my attention that hardly anyone knows the legend of Hayden and Deary, the two people depicted on the Idaho state flag.

OK, there’s probably some “official” explanation for the figures. But here’s the story I prefer. Feel free not to believe it.

Hayden and Deary were star-crossed lovers. Long before statehood, Hayden was raised in the mountains by cougars. They taught him to love the high country and not trust strangers.

Deary was the headstrong daughter of the Lake Gods. She was happy in an Atlantis-like world beneath the water’s surface.

But one day, Hayden dropped his magic pickax. It tumbled and rolled all the way down the mountain. He went bounding after it.

As it happened, at that very same moment, Deary saw a glint of light up above the water. It was a beam of sunshine catching the pickax just right.

Though she had been told to never do so, Deary slipped out of the lake and stood on the shore. She bent over and took hold of the pickax.

Just then, Hayden scrambled to the bottom of the mountain and strode to the water’s edge. He saw Deary. She was the most beautiful vision he had ever beheld.

“Hello,” he said, staring into Deary’s deep blue eyes.

“Hello,” she said, fighting an urge to smile. “Is this yours?”

Now Hayden had forgotten all about the magic tool. But he nodded and held out a hand.

Deary passed him the pickax. And in the moment when both of them grasped it, a bolt of lighting struck the pickax and it began to glow.

But Hayden and Deary were not afraid. Without having to say a word, they knew that … oops, looks like I’m out of space. Maybe I can pick this up again some other day. I haven’t even gotten to the part where they pledge their love “esto perpetua” but learn they cannot be together until the two opposing natures of Idaho are brought into harmony.

Happy Flag Day.

Today’s Slice question: How many people around here besides me have had flags stolen from the front of their homes?