A rose by any other name

A number of years ago, I thought I'd finally hit on the right title for Mrs. Koch.

It was time to move on from "Queen of Clean" (in name only; heaven will be a much cleaner place someday).

She's not the "director" of a specific department, so that wouldn't work.

And Owners' Mom just doesn't have the right panache.

Suddenly it hit me: Matriarch.

That's it!

The quintessential queenly moniker.

Well deserved.

Perfect.

She hates it.

Today, the Lincolnland Economic Development Corporation held its annual membership meeting. Mrs. Koch was one of the featured speakers, so I signed up to attend.

I was sitting with Laura from the Spencer County Visitors Bureau, Crystal from the Santa Claus Museum, Michael and Kathleen from Buffalo Run, and Samantha from Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Wonderful people.

As the LEDC president introduced Mrs. Koch, I stage-whispered to my table, "Say a prayer he doesn't call her 'matriarch.' She really, really hates that."

Right on cue: "...let's have a warm welcome for the matriarch of Holiday World -- Pat Koch!"

My table lapsed into giggles.

And Mrs. Koch's first words to the group of about 120: "Oh, I wish they'd come up with something else to call me."

Be careful what you wish for...

My husband, Gary, called a bit ago to tell me Jim from WBDC radio had a lively report on his 4:00 pm newscast.

Jim chose not to call Mrs. Koch our matriarch (one publication a while back actually called her the park's patriarch).

Instead...

"And one of the featured speakers at today's luncheon was the Mother Goose of Holiday World, Pat Koch."