How Sweet it Is...to be in the South

When I lived in the west every time I opened my mouth I was asked “WHERE ARE YOU FROM?” as if I was speaking Greek. It is not just the southern sound of peoples’ voices or “twang”, as a less courteous person may put it that defines those from the south. There is something that I can’t put my finger on that draws a true southerner back to the south. It’s a sense of looking out for others, a genuine concern for those around you. Perhaps it’s a gentle way of living…waving to neighbors, opening doors for others, a helping hand when stepping off of a bus, or hearing “yes sir” and “no sir” (especially from the mouths of children). It is a bit slower paced way of living, people are not too busy to look up and smile and say “Hi yall’” or “Howdy” when walking down the street and even in one of the largest cities in the south, I regularly encounter polite drivers at rush hour who are not so self consumed with their schedule that they do not have time to let me merge into their lane. I would be amiss if I did not mention Southern foods like chicken & dumplins (not dumplings), sweet tea, slow cooked barbecue and homemade pies and cobbler with homemade ice cream; they are all must haves even for those of us who are always “dieting”. Flowers and shrubs like Southern Magnolias, azaleas and fields full of blue bonnets welcome the spring in true southern style with their vibrant colors. It is not just one thing that I now no longer take for granted being back in my element; I cherish the culture, the environment and the people who make the south a down-right wonderful place to call home.