I have to hand it to the people of Estevan: Sign Wars have been really, really entertaining.聽
I鈥檝e enjoyed seeing how the businesses have been chirping at others through their signs. The messages are funny, entertaining and usually involve a pun of some sort. And the bonus is that they鈥檙e family-friendly. Kids don鈥檛 have to look at the sign and ask 鈥淲hat does (insert word[s] here) mean?鈥澛�
Over the past 16 months, we鈥檝e needed as many laughs and distractions as we could get. Sign Wars has definitely fit the bill.聽
I鈥檝e also realized something else: I suck at Sign Wars.聽
This might come as a surprise to a lot of people. Now, let me start by saying it might not be a good idea for a newspaper editor to admit to struggles with words. Kind of like a hockey coach admitting to struggles with finding the right defensive system for players.
I like to think I have a quick wit, that I can think on my feet and that I can make people laugh. I hope most of you who have interacted with me over the years would agree. I rarely find myself at a loss for words. 聽
But when we鈥檝e had discussions in the office about a great idea for our contributions to Sign Wars, my contributions are about the same as my contributions to a book on how to drive safely at night.聽
Deanna鈥檚 great at it. Anastasiia鈥檚 great at it. 聽
My idea was 鈥淲e鈥檙e Estevan鈥檚 oldest business. We鈥檝e been so great since 1903, we don鈥檛 need a sign.鈥澛�
Yeah, I don鈥檛 think that would merit a response from Encompass Fitness, the Days Inn, the Southern Plains Co-op and the others who have proven to be so good at bringing humour to their business sign.
So I get no credit when it comes to the Sign Wars you鈥檒l find in this week鈥檚 Mercury.聽
And when I do sit down and try to come up with something that fits, my mind turns to other things. 聽
In my fantasy hockey pool, I鈥檓 great at trash talk. At the annual Estevan Jubilee Baseball Pool auction (now in it鈥檚 35th season and still going strong), I鈥檓 a hoot, even before I start breaking into the craft beer on a Sunday afternoon.聽
But ask me to come up with a sign to go after a business in the community, and I draw a blank.聽
If I could play Sign Wars like I yap during the ball pool draft, I鈥檇 be the king.
But then Sign Wars wouldn鈥檛 be family friendly. In fact, the businesses would likely get a battery of complaints for the language used on their signs, and parents would not be happy when they hear the question of 鈥淲hat does (insert bad word) mean?鈥澛爁rom their kids.
And in Sign Wars, I lose that over the top delivery that plays such an important role in my humour.
I guess pun-based humour isn鈥檛 my thing. 聽
Despite my failings, I think the Sign Wars have been great. You can tell that the businesses have spent time thinking about their witty banter. We鈥檝e seen that it鈥檚 not just rival companies lobbing barbs at each other off; it all started when Encompass Fitness tossed a salvo in the direction of Black Beard鈥檚 Restaurant. 聽
(Thankfully Black Beard鈥檚 Restaurant played along; this concept would have tanked in a hurry if they didn鈥檛).聽
But it is fun to see how competing businesses get involved.聽
Businesses that don鈥檛 have a sign have still found a way to get involved by hanging something in their window to respond to a chirp or to issue one of their own.
And it鈥檚 been fun to see the schools get involved, too. (More proof that these messages have been good for the entire family.
Other Saskatchewan communities have been getting involved, too. Not sure if they were first, but I do think Estevan鈥檚 have been the best.
I say we enjoy Sign Wars as much as we can, and keep it going for as long as possible. Laugh at the signs you see around town. If you鈥檙e a business owner, think of a way you can get involved. If someone lobs a short your way, respond.聽
Just remember that if you see one from the Mercury, and it鈥檚 good, that I had nothing to do with it.聽聽
