An unintentionally funny historic marker, because you don't anything serious from me today

As I write we're on the eve of a very depressing presidential inauguration happening exactly on Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday (observed), and I had all sorts of idea of bringing in historical markers to say Something Profound, but... do you really need that? Do I really need that? Is my hand-wringing going to add anything or help anyone in ways the many wringing hands haven't already done?

Instead, I'm doing something trivial because, I don't know about you, but taking some time to find joy is the fuel that's going to get me through however long all this lasts.

So I'll to share one of my favorite historical markers.

The marker, titled "Site of First Successful Caesarean Section in Indiana," located along U.S. 52 south of Lafayette, reads thusly:

On the kitchen table of this house, the morning of November 6, 1880, Mrs. Luther Lucas, a farmer's wife, was delivered of a healthy infant son, after a mid-line incision made by Dr. Moses Baker, a pioneer physician-surgeon of Stockwell. Observed by six attending doctors who refused responsibility for its success or failure, it became the first in Indiana in which both mother and child lived.

(Donated by Tippecanoe County Medical Society, Erected by Tippecanoe County Historical Association)

The line that cracks me up every time (I drive a lot between Chicago and Indianapolis and Lafayette is in between) is: "Observed by six attending doctors who refused responsibility for its success or failure... ."

Of all the details to make up 20 percent of a 66-word marker, why that? And also, thank you for including it! I enjoy the image of a bunch of doctors standing around saying, "Gee, Moses, are you sure? We're just watching, so don't pin anything on me, dude." (It was 1880, so maybe they didn't say "dude." And maybe they said "ye" instead of "you.")

The hilarity is also heightened by this sign being surrounded by nothing. I presume the house where this happened existed whenever this sign was put up (no date is given), but I've never seen it. Behind it, a vast cornfield, with no sign of residence.

Maybe this marker isn't that funny; maybe funny, but not ha-ha funny. But we're all trying to cope in our own ways, so in this, I will find joy.