When I was a kid there was no such thing as Presidents Day. We celebrated George Washington’s Birthday on February 22nd. In school we made three cornered hats and colored them black and discussed Washington crossing the Delaware during the American Revolution.

We ate something with cherries because we heard that when Washington was a kid he chopped down a cherry tree and then ‘fessed up.

But in 1971 the government moved the date from his actual birthday to the 3rd Monday in February so people could have a three day weekend.

Lots of states started calling it Presidents Day (even though, officially, the government lists it as Washington’s Birthday), because retailers needed another excuse to have a sale on mattresses or cars.

Me? I think George Washington deserves his own day. To me, honoring all presidents dilutes Washington’s special status. Among other things, I think his biggest virtue was his willingness to give up power - when given the opportunity to be president for life, he declined. Think about that for a moment.

So, even though it isn’t your actual birthday, I wish a happy birthday to you, our dear first president. I sometimes wonder what you would think about the political climate of the 21st century.

CHERRY COBBLER

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 4 tablespoons butter

• 1 large egg

• 1/3 cup milk

• 4 cups sour red cherries, drained canned or fresh, pitted

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 tablespoons minute tapioca

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix the flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Add the butter and work into the dry ingredients until the mixture is crumbly. Beat the egg and milk together. Add to the dry ingredients and mix to a soft (sticky) dough. In a separate bowl, mix the cherries, 1/2 cup sugar, tapioca and lemon juice. Let stand for 10 minutes. Place the cherry mixture into a baking dish (or individual dishes). Place the dough roughly over the cherries (in clumps or spread with your fingers). Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 4-6 servings