On Being Southern

Every once and while I get one of those emails that say “you know you’re from Alabama if…” or “you know you’re Southern when…”.  I’ve always appreciated those lists because so many of them tend to be true.

In the movie Sweet Home Alabama, Reese Witherspoon’s character, Melanie, says “you need a passport to come down here”.  While that may not be true, living in the South, especially the Deep South, really is a whole other world.  We talk different, we move slower, and we still occasionally call it The War of Northern Aggression. 

I thought I would share a few of my favorite “you know” bits with y’all so we can all enjoy the little idiosyncrasies that make the South so special.

You know you’re from the South when you measure distance in time, not miles.

You know you’re a Southern woman if you can appropriately use the phrase “bless her heart” to mean both pity and insult, usually at the same time.

You know you’re from the Alabama when grocery stores have buggies not carts.

You know you’re in the Deep South when you order a Coke and the waitress asks you what kind.

You know you’re from the South when you can correctly use “fix” as a verb.  As in, “I’m fixing to go to the store.”

You know you’re from Alabama when you know that the four seasons are really Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer, and Christmas.

You know you’re from the South if you say “yes ma’am” or “no sir” to anyone 5 years older than you.

You know you’re a Southern lady if you never, ever leave the house wearing white shoes, pants, or dresses before Easter or after Labor Day.

You know you’re from the South if you always call your father “Daddy” no matter how old you are.

You know you’re in the Deep South when you pass a store offering bait, movie rentals, and tanning.

If you live in the South, what are your favorites?  If not, what’s special/humorous about where you live?