Tiny Wonder

The emails began...

From Nathan:
You’re invited!!
Big Game! (Colts vs. Bears)
Big Screen! (7-foot projector)
Big Crowd! (You and all your friends)
Big Spread of Food! (…which you, of course, help provide)

From Danika:
This sounds awesome!    Count me in.  

From John:
I’m coming!

From Danika:
Hooray!  Representation from The Tiny Wonder!
 
From Danika:
I’ve been asked by Gabe to explain my last email.  “Tiny Wonder” refers to Delaware.  Delaware is the one and only tiny wonder…according to license plates and Johnny T.  So there.   
COLTS!!!     

From Vince:
Thx Danika, it was a bit tense there for a while… :)

From John: [feel free to skim this, although there is some funny stuff buried]
I appreciate the shout out, and given this sudden interest I thought I’d capitalize with some explanations:

The First State: (Official) Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787. There is only one First State and Delaware is it.

Small Wonder: A new nickname developed to promote the state's contributions to the nation and its natural beauty.

The Diamond State: This nickname for Delaware is echoed in the State Flag. The buff colored diamond serves as a frame for the state Coat of Arms. This nickname originated with Thomas Jefferson who compared Delaware to a diamond; small but very valuable. According to the Delaware Government Information Center, Thomas Jefferson described Delaware as "...a 'jewel' among states due to its strategic location on the Eastern Seaboard."

The Blue Hen State: This historical nickname, sometimes Blue Hen Chicken State, originated during the Revolutionary War. According to W.A. Powell's History of Delaware, 1928, the story traces back to a Captain Caldwell from Kent County who carried with him a pair of fighting game cocks. These chickens, descendents of a famous Blue Hen, were well known in Kent County for their superior fighting qualities. It is said that upon seeing these game cocks fight, one soldier cried "We're sons of the Old Blue Hen and we're game to the end" comparing the fighting prowess of the chickens to the fighting prowess of the Delaware soldiers. These regiments from Kent County became known as "Blue Hen's Chickens." This name was soon applied statewide. In 1939, the Blue Hen Chicken was adopted as Delaware's official State Bird.

The Peach State: In the 1500s, the Spanish brought peaches to Delaware. By the 1600s, peaches were so plentiful in the state that farmers used them to feed their pigs. Supported by the Delaware Railroad in the early nineteenth century, Delaware became the leading producer of peaches in the United States. Almost 6,000,000 baskets of peaches were shipped to market in 1875, Delaware's peak production year. Many problems beset peach farmers throughout the latter part of the century. The peach blight, called the "yellows" forced the collapse of the industry and, in the early 1900s, many peach farmers faced bankruptcy.

New Sweden: Refers to the first permanent settlement in Delaware in the present day Wilmington. Delaware was under Swedish rule from 1638 to 1655. The first Swedish settlement was at "The Rocks," on the Christina River, near the foot of Seventh Street. The Christina River was named after the young queen of Sweden as was the fort that was built.

Uncle Sam's Pocket Handkerchief: This obscure nickname probably refers to the small size of Delaware.

Corporate Capital: Delaware has been called the "Corporate Capital" because so many corporations have incorporated in the state because of its business-friendly law. According to the Delaware Division of Corporations (2002), more than 308,000 companies are incorporated in Delaware. This includes 60% of the Fortune 500 and 50% of the companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Delaware has also been called "The Chemical Capital" and the "Home of Tax-Free Shopping."

From Vince:
John, so what you’re really telling us is that your home state is famous for a discolored chicken thing, lost Swedes, a wannabe Georgia peach grower, and Uncle Sam’s snot rag.  Let’s also not forget that Thomas Jefferson chose Monticello, not Dover, for his wonderful home.  Love ya man, GO COLTS!!!

From John:
Lol! I will not concede defeat! You failed to mention that we've been compared to a rare jewel, the superior fighting prowess of a game fowl, and that our mothers were most likely Swedish models.

From Rachel:
It makes me happy that you are so proud of your state. Sure, some of us didn't even know delaware was a state until about 2 years ago and are still not entirely sure of its location on the map but that's not important... what IS important, John, is that we are blessed to know a direct ancestor of a Swedish model. I mean, how many people can say that??