Lunchroom conversations can be revealing.

An interesting one started this week when I pointed out a headline in the Detroit Free Press that read, ”Sister state,” referring to Ohio.

Who in Michigan, I asked, thinks Ohio and Michigan are sister states? Maybe Michiganders consider Ohio to be a black sheep second cousin, but not a sister.

When I think of sisters, I think of a loving, caring relationship, with maybe a little sibling rivalry but generally warm and fuzzy feelings.

How often do Michigan residents describe Ohio in warm, fuzzy terms. I’m afraid it’s not sibling rivalry - more like good old fashioned, serious, stick-in-the-eye kind of rivalry.

As I’ve noted on this blog, I’m caught in the middle of it, with a daughter who attended UM and a wife who attended OSU. Between them, it’s a good natured rivalry. But even they wouldn’t describe the two states as “sisters.”

My lunchroom question rattled around the room, as several people responded with perspectives of their own. Then Deb Saul, editor of The Evening News, tossed in a different wrinkle.

“I don’t get Ohio,” she said. “Look at all the crazy place names. They’re insane.” (or something to that effect).

That, of course, led to a discussion of some of Michigan and Ohio’s more peculiar place names - a competition of another kind. As she finished her lunch and headed back to work, Deb turned to me and said, “I’ll send make a list and send it to you.”

Her tone seemed to be saying, “Take a look at this list and you’ll agree…”

So, here’s her list of crazy places in Ohio:

Buzzard Roost
Tobasco
Toots Corners
Iron City
Uno
Babbtown
Bald Knobs
Thelma
Youba
Turkey Foot
Turkey Neck
Clyde
Wacker Heights
Wilberforce
Knockemstiff

She added this comment: My point is: Are these names that would entice you to move there and settle down? I don’t mean to offend any Ohio fans. But they just don’t have the music of Petoskey, Port Huron, Cadillac, Charlevoix, Ontonogon.

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