"Y'all Come Right In And Make Yourself At Home!"

"Y'all Come Right In And Make Yourself At Home!"

"In the South, the breeze blows softer...neighbors are friendlier, nosier, and more talkative. Our way of thinking is different, as are our ways of seeing, laughing, singing, eating, meeting, and parting. -- Charles Kuralt

To be Southern is to be part a diverse culture with a rich and deep heritage -- a heritage that is steeped in traditions of music, stories, family, and yes, food. Southern culture is a blend of people from different places who have adapted to a similar way of living. Being Southern is not just living south of the Mason-Dixon line. It is a way of living.

Stories and memories that are passed down through the family line play an important role in keeping this heritage alive. Each successive generation receives an invaluable gift of family history to build on. I remember visiting my Papa (grandfather) and listening to the stories he would tell about his childhood, and also about my father's growing up years. The stories might be slightly altered in the telling to reflect his style, but that is part of the tradition. By the time the tale is passed down five or six generations, and "improved upon" a little bit each time, it has become almost unreal, a tall tale.

"The biggest myth about Southern women is that we are frail types -- fainting on our sofas...nobody where I grew up ever acted like that. We were about as fragile as coal trucks." -- Lee Smith

A favorite story of mine is one that my dad told me. As a boy, he spent much time with his grandparents and once, when he was about ten years old, he was visiting with the rest of his family. His grandmother was a no-nonsense lady with rather strict notions about children, so they usually steered clear of her. During this particular visit, my dad was to see a prime example of why his grandmother was a force with which to be reckoned.

My dad was standing outside playing, and looking up, he saw a scorpion on the side of the house. Now understand, the scorpions in this certain area weren't the teeny tiny creatures that can be easily crushed with a foot. The size of one of these scorpions would rival the length of a large man's index finger, and the results of getting stung by one could cause critical damage. My dad called out to anyone around that one of these creatures was on the wall of the house. His grandmother happened to be within hearing distance. The next thing my dad knew, his granny walked out the door with a double-barrel shotgun. She said, "Git outta the way, James", aimed the gun at the house, and blasted the scorpion to kingdom come. That day, my father gained a new respect for his grandmother and another reason to keep on her good side.

"The accent of one's birthplace remains in his mind and his heart, as it does in his speech." -- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

When talking to a friend in Idaho for the first time, she exclaimed how much she liked my accent. She wasn't the first person to say that. It did cause me to reflect, however. What exactly is a Southern accent? I never considered myself as having so noticeable an accent, so I started listening to myself more and comparing my tone with others around me. I have grown up around what we call rednecks, with their ill-use of grammar and bad enunciation. So, I determined to always say my words clearly to make sure others can understand what I am saying. I don't speak with a distinct Southern (pronounced "Suh-thurn) emphasis, but I have developed the soft and gentle overtone that occasionally shows in my speech and is known as an accent.

"Our walk is different, as the old song goes, our talk and our names." -- Charles Kuralt

One thing I love about the South is the insane and hilarious names of some of the towns and cities. Names like Hopeulikit, Georgia; Possom Trot, Kentucky; Ticktown, Virginia; Hooker Hole, Louisana; and Frogtown, Mississippi. Oh, and let us not forget Slapout, Alabama! The diversity of the South is remarkable, and hearing new and interesting names always delights me.

All in all, the South is an amazing place to live, and it's difficult to imagine living anywhere else. The qualities that make this place home are what keep me here. It does not matter if I ever leave; my heart will always remain in the sweet and sunny South.

"Nothing about us is quite the same as in the country to the north and west. What we carry in our memories is different too, and that may explain everything else." -- Charles Kuralt