Let THEM eat cake; we must have our daily bread

Marie Antoinette most likely did not say Qu'ils mangent de la brioche. (Let them eat cake.)

The traditionally accepted lore is that a French princess first uttered the phrase after learning that the peasants had no bread.

No problem, the princess pondered. Let them eat cake.

(Alexandre Dumas attributes the quote to one of Marie Antoinette's faithful companions, the Duchess of Polignac.)

Regardless, let's forget about the cake-eaters. After all, we're in Ohio, not France.

Here in the Buckeye State we adhere to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, specifically, the Our Father: Give us this day our daily bread…

In fact, we must have our daily bread. Don't believe me? Check out the bread shelves in your neighborhood grocery store.

And this "you must buy bread (and milk) if a winter storm is coming" phenomenon is not limited to southern Ohio. Just for fun, select any Southern state from Texas to Florida and do an online search for say, "winter storm sends Texans for bread and milk."

There are countless stories across the South that show many people in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida react to the "s" word in much the same manner as their fellow Americans in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana or that state up north.

Comedian Vic DiBitetto has a short 30-second video that sums up the panic purchasing of bread and milk. If you feel like a good laugh on this cold winter day, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6zaVYWLTkU

Now, back to Ohio. This weekend has brought a perfect storm, of sorts, for those of us who will not miss our daily bread.

To begin with, the National Weather Service issued a wind chill warning and a winter weather advisory for southern Ohio. That, in and of itself, can induce panic and cause a run on the Great Scot and Kroger bread supplies.

But don't let that sub-zero weather forecast toast your buns. There's more to this perfect storm than an Andrea Gail fishing trip.

Consider:

• The coldest forecast in more than a generation has occurred in the midst of a holiday week.

• During the NFL playoffs.

• On the weekend.

• At the first of the month.

Is it any wonder we're out of bread?

Of course, for local supermarket owners and investors, the perfect storm can be the greatest thing since … well, sliced bread.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.