It’s only been 2 years since we've become residents of the South. In that short period of time a few parts of my character that made me a Midwestern city girl are being beaten into submission. It makes me laugh that I am slowly but surely blending into my surroundings! Arghhhhh!
Yesterday evening, as I came home from work, I felt another chunk of the BC (before Chattanooga) me fall to the floor. As I got out of my car, I looked across the street to see my neighbor sitting on her front porch and I immediately waved to her. ?!?! Before I knew what was coming over me I began a conversation. Huh? As we spoke, I looked down the street and noticed a moving truck at the end of the block. I suddenly had this bizarre notion that I should head down the block and welcome them to the neighborhood. Pretty out of character. It was like a big can of southern hospitality threw up all over me! I spent three years at my last place in St. Louis and couldn't tell you one of my neighbor’s names nor would I recognize one of their faces in a crowd. But we've been in this house just a few months and suddenly I’m the neighborhood welcome wagon???
It got me thinking... what other changes have occurred since our migration below the mason Dixon line?
~ I now know what grits are and sometimes eat and enjoy them
~ I put make up on every time I leave the house
~ I include "ma'am" and "sir" after my yes and no answers
~ when I hear "bar-b-que" I know it means pulled pork and is not just a cooking technique
~ some of my closest friends are political conservatives
However, there are a few cultural differences that I haven't given in to yet.
~ I don't use the term "y'all"
~ I do not drink sweet tea
~ I don't own a confederate flag
~ I don't use self tanner or have a membership at a tanning salon
~ my hair is far from BIG
By no means am I a southern belle and there is probably not a chance I’ll ever be mistaken for one. But I’m definitely seeing some of the Bible-belt culture bleed into my personality. It’s fun to watch time, experience and location play a part in cultivating a new me. Who knew in just two short years I might associate personal growth with becoming more stereotypically Southern? Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a Midwestern city girl at my core. But it's been fun to incorporate a little bit of Dixie into who I am.
4 comments:
Of course I remember you Molly! Thanks so much for commenting on my blog! Your blog is quite funny to read- being from TX, this post was especially close to my heart! A few comments:
1- Isn't pulled pork the BEST??
2- You don't say yall yet? COME ON!!
3- Tea isn't good unless there is at least 1 cup of sugar in it.. ha ha!
chris would be proud to know you have close political conservative friends!...just don't come home with a southern accent...as i know a few people who have moved as far south as nashville-and within a year or so-now speak like they grew up in the heart of texas! hahahahaaaaa
Molly, I have to comment on this one.
I was born and breed in the south and I don't know my neighbors, I don't like sweet tea (but I love unsweetened), pulled pork repulses me, my hair isn't big...but I do indulge in the tanning bed to jump start my summer. Oh, and had our appointment held this morning, I would've have been there with only foundation and blush on...so I do leave the house without makeup!
Blessings (Ya'll)!
Amy Dover
amy dover,
i bet those are a few of the reasons why i feel so comfortable around you and love you sooooo much!!!!!! you make me feel like i'm not on another planet down here in chattanooga.
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