She Flies by the Seat of Her Pants?

I just did a posting on Oregon's #3 ranking amongst un-churched states and then came across a small nugget about the states and wondered if there is a connection. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_and_territory_mottos). Do you know your state's motto? They provide fascinating insights into a state's character.

Take Kentucky, for example," United we stand, divided we fall. Deo Gratiam Haberamus. (Let us be grateful to God)." Or how about Colorado: "Nil sine numine. (Nothing without Providence)." Some are truculent like New Hampshire's "Live Free or Die." Then there is California's proud exclamation: "I have found it!" more recently amended to "Dude! I have found it!" Kidding.

Then we come to the great Pacific Northwest, the end of the Oregon Trail, home of giant Douglas Firs, majestic snow-capped mountains, the broad Columbia flowing into the gray North Pacific with its piscine bounty of salmon. And what does Oregon come up with for a state motto to reflect this pioneer spirit? "She flies with her own wings." Excuse me? What the Sam Hill does that mean? Not wanting to be topped by its southerly neighbor, Washington lets fly with "Al-ki. (By and by)." Isn't that Hawaii's motto? Is it the lack of sunshine out here or something else? No wonder folks in the NW can't appreciate the majesty of God when they respond to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest with drivel like this! If she flies with her own wings, stay out of her way when she tries to land the darn thing!