A Southern heart never leaves home, no matter where it lives. This is one of those truths that rests just out of reach for most of us until someone pulls the chain and turns on the light. Not long ago, I posted a simple question on Facebook. Paraphrased, it went something like this: “What do you love about the South?” As a result, Southerners began weighing in from the far corners, many of them having left home decades ago.
As we spoke of manners and mayonnaise, peanuts and porches, standard procedures for funeral food, middle names, and watermelons, the floodgates opened. We ran toward our thoughts like children toward the ocean on a warm summer morning. Pure joy was the result.
For your pleasure, here is a sampling, in random and beautiful order.
Susan: “My grandmother had a farm, and she would take a knife and shaker of salt and cut a watermelon right in the field. Best watermelon I have ever had!”
Rhonda: “My grandaddy Pa-Paw hated for my grandmother Me-Maw to pick vegetables, because she ate more than she picked. It was like she went out there to graze!”
Kathy: “I was a grown woman before I realized that white potatoes mispronounced by my dad as “arsh” potatoes were really Irish potatoes!”
Brenda: “I am reminded of James Taylor’s “Carolina in My Mind”.
Marilyn: “I love that song….I like to close my eyes when I hear it and imagine myself back in NC and VA…..the mountains, the scents of nature, the sweet sound of southern drawls, the simplicity and goodness of the food, family and friends…..and usually end up with a few tears in my eyes.”
Wanda: “Another thing us southerners say is “yonder” and “over yonder”. I was asked recently by a Northerner “how far is yonder?”. My answer was “Yonder is as far as you can see, but over yonder can be anywhere you can not see”. Came off the top of my head, but is basically what we Southerners mean.”
Karen: “Well this completely unfair since I’m not a Southerner but can I say 2 things?—-hush puppies are one of my favorite, best yummy foods and “Steel Magnolias” is 1 of my favorite movies!!”
Beth: “Anyone who loves Steel Magnolias is an Honorary Southerner, Karen, so no worries!”
Candy: “Manners!!!!! I cringe when I hear “yea”…..and when I DON’T hear a “thankyou”!”
Cheryl: “Manners count! I’ve been out of the south more years than I lived there But I managed to raise 2 children with manners. They say yes Ma’am and No Sir. Politeness goes a long way if you ask me…”
Tracy: “The infinite meanings of “Bless your heart” depending on tone, situation and who you are speaking to.”
Mona: “Years ago, when I was still in the trucking industry, I traveled back and forth from here to NYC to make sales calls in the Garment District. A few of my customers had spent time in the south and had grown to love Krispy Kreme doughnuts. At that time the delicious fried dough was not available in NYC so my customers would talk lovingly about them. On the way to Charlotte airport one morning to catch a flight I decided to give a go at finding the Hot & Now sign on at the Gastonia Krispy Kreme and what do you know it was!!! So I purchased about 7 dozen of the hot doughnuts and headed for the airport boarding with the smell of hot doughnuts filling the passenger cabin. To say the least my customers were happier than my fellow passengers who had to “endure” the mouth watering aroma throughout the entire flight.”
Donna and Karla: “Petit Jean ham…”
Nonah: “Breakfast for supper. Grits and eggs with bacon or sausage all mixed together with a little cheese thrown in. Yum!”
And we were just getting warmed up, but you get the drift.
If you’ve never had occasion to visit our fair land, I hope that you will. But be prepared. If you’re here for longer than 10 minutes (and if you know your manners), sooner or later the South will enfold you in a nice warm hug, and somebody will invite you home for supper.
Photo of house in Monticello, Florida, by Beth Yarbrough.
As a Southerner who has lived most of his life in other parts, I find this piece brilliant; it is so true! Thank you for ALL your stories, in such a well-crafted, Southern way!
No place like home in historic Georgetown, SC. Sandwiched between Charleston and Myrtle Beach!