I’m sure that some of you must have seen the article in the paper the other day about the woman in New Hampshire who has started the “Wicked New England” T-shirt business.

The article talked about how New Englanders love to use “wicked” as in the New England Patriots are “wicked good”, or it’s “wicked cold” out. I have certainly made both of those statements many times.

As I read that article I got “wicked” upset. “Wicked” belongs to Maine! I have never heard anyone outside of Maine use it and I have lived brief periods in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, though I don’t often admit it. In both states people laughed at me for my use of “wicked” to describe just about everything.

And now it is being assumed by the Associated Press and a young woman in New Hampshire that “wicked” is a New England term. Well, I think that is just “wicked” disrespectful.

If the Maine Legislature is so hell bent on wasting time and taxpayers’ dollars to pass a bill declaring the whoopee pie as the Maine state treat (I think blueberry pie is a better choice) than they can darn well waste a little more time and taxpayers’ dollars to declare “wicked” as the Maine state word.

Just think of all the “wicked” marketing potential. The Maine Publicity Bureau has gone with “Maine…the way life should be” for a long time. Though I don’t disagree with the sentiment, it is getting a little old and it doesn’t have a lot of pizzazz to it.

Just think how “Maine…the wicked good state” would appeal to the tourists. I’m sure that while the tourists are here they would eat a few whoopee pies, but I’m willing to bet they would spend some “wicked” serious money buying “wicked good” Tee-shirts, bumper stickers, coffee mugs and what have you.

Restaurants could start promoting some of their menu items, such as “wicked good fried clams,” “wicked tasty blueberry pies,” or “wicked big burgers.”

Maybe we should even use it for some of our state symbols like “wicked cute chickadee” or “wicked smelly pine cone and tassel.” While we’re at it we could change our license plate to “wicked vacationland.” That would certainly get some attention.

I’ll go along with whoopee pies as the state treat as long as “wicked” becomes the state word, because the way I see it it’s truly a “wicked” darn good idea.