Livng in the South
Aug 17th, 2004 | 05:20 PM
#83
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 60
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I loved that story!! I hear great stories like that from my mom about the first time my devout catholic grandparents meeting my jewish father. He was not even involved in the faith and did not keep a kosher lifestyle, but they had a fit anyway..and even more so when 3 months later my mom said they were getting married and she was preganat with me....My gramdma still sometimes refers to my dad as the "bull-headed jew"...lol
maybe i shouldn't have posted this, for fear of being called a troll again
I will keep everyone updated with my move and how i am adjusting to the south.
maybe i shouldn't have posted this, for fear of being called a troll again
I will keep everyone updated with my move and how i am adjusting to the south.
Aug 17th, 2004 | 05:49 PM
#84
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I moved to south Ga 4 years ago from the Midwest, so to answer your questions-- Yes southeners are friendly and nice, but more superficially. I like knowing where I stand with people (good and bad), in my experience southeners would just rather say something nice like than tell you what they may really think if its not a positive.
And it is true what other posters are saying about the civil war. Although, I have often heard it referred to as "The War of Northern Aggression."
Charleston is a beatiful city with lots to do. Southern women dress up alot to just go out and about, that was new to me. I guess I am just a plain ole farm girl.
It is nice that no one is in a hurry much, unless you are trying to get someone to help you with things like house repairs.
My husband from PA took a job here so I guess I am might as well grin a bear it, I am here for good!
You will love Charleston, good pick!
And it is true what other posters are saying about the civil war. Although, I have often heard it referred to as "The War of Northern Aggression."
Charleston is a beatiful city with lots to do. Southern women dress up alot to just go out and about, that was new to me. I guess I am just a plain ole farm girl.
It is nice that no one is in a hurry much, unless you are trying to get someone to help you with things like house repairs.
My husband from PA took a job here so I guess I am might as well grin a bear it, I am here for good!
You will love Charleston, good pick!
Aug 17th, 2004 | 06:03 PM
#85
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
I'm risking it by adding this story but here goes. I've been married 25 years to a Yankee. Yes, I confess! When he told his PA parents & grandparents about me I don't know what floored them the most-
a) I was from the South or
b) I was Baptist.
They were Northern & Catholic so you can see that I was really foreign to them. Anyway... we go to visit them (from the south) & he tells me that his father has threatened to meet us at the airport dressed like an Amish farmer. So I say "not to worry" I'll just dress like a Hari Khrisna ( no offense to any here but remember they were everywhere in the late 70s) & really give them something to moan about. That was the end of that! The next culture clash came about 1987 when we had been married 8 years. Brother-in-law was getting married so they wanted a family picture taken a few days before. Mother-in-law about had a fit because I wore a nice sweater & dress pants. She actually hissed to the photographer to "put her in the back...she's wearing SLACKS!!" Hey, where I come from that was dressed up! Guess it really hit home that my southern family would never have embarrassed anyone like that. We'd at least wait til they cleared the driveway to start clucking!!
Welcome to the crazy world of the South. Rent a bunch of movies like "Steel Magnolias" & "Ya-Ya Sisterhood" to get a real feel for us.
a) I was from the South or
b) I was Baptist.
They were Northern & Catholic so you can see that I was really foreign to them. Anyway... we go to visit them (from the south) & he tells me that his father has threatened to meet us at the airport dressed like an Amish farmer. So I say "not to worry" I'll just dress like a Hari Khrisna ( no offense to any here but remember they were everywhere in the late 70s) & really give them something to moan about. That was the end of that! The next culture clash came about 1987 when we had been married 8 years. Brother-in-law was getting married so they wanted a family picture taken a few days before. Mother-in-law about had a fit because I wore a nice sweater & dress pants. She actually hissed to the photographer to "put her in the back...she's wearing SLACKS!!" Hey, where I come from that was dressed up! Guess it really hit home that my southern family would never have embarrassed anyone like that. We'd at least wait til they cleared the driveway to start clucking!!
Welcome to the crazy world of the South. Rent a bunch of movies like "Steel Magnolias" & "Ya-Ya Sisterhood" to get a real feel for us.
Aug 17th, 2004 | 06:06 PM
#86
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,336
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Jayne, that's really funny.
You know, I really love Charleston (I loved it more before it picked up its pace in the past 15 years) -- but one thing really bothers me. Those mammy dolls and jocky statues they sell. They are everywhere from the 7-11 to the corner store. Kind of makes one think that they like that kind of stuff in Charleston. It's almost to South Carolina what the orange is to Florida.
Florida is and isn't the South. Southerners don't consider it the South because it's so different historically and culturally, but despite the difference there's plenty of yahoos down here to keep the image alive.
Yahooooooooooooooooooooo!
You know, I really love Charleston (I loved it more before it picked up its pace in the past 15 years) -- but one thing really bothers me. Those mammy dolls and jocky statues they sell. They are everywhere from the 7-11 to the corner store. Kind of makes one think that they like that kind of stuff in Charleston. It's almost to South Carolina what the orange is to Florida.
Florida is and isn't the South. Southerners don't consider it the South because it's so different historically and culturally, but despite the difference there's plenty of yahoos down here to keep the image alive.
Yahooooooooooooooooooooo!
Aug 17th, 2004 | 09:01 PM
#92
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 850
Likes: 0
Benj,
I forgot to comment on your slacks faux paux. I too was raised as a Southern Baptist (my mom gave in on that one too--she was raised is the Episcopal Church).
When I was in college this boy finally asked me out after weeks of flirting. He invited to his church's revival (should have been my first clue). Of course as all college girls do, I agonized over what to wear and my roommates and I finally settled on a consertive blouse and plants. When he picked me up he looked horrified--pants were a no-no at his church. Of course since I only did my laundry once a month it threw me in to a tailspin. I made us 30 minutes late to church (which was Primitive Baptist) and it was THE longest date of my life, but damn he was cute.
By the way, my live mammy's name was Levita!
I forgot to comment on your slacks faux paux. I too was raised as a Southern Baptist (my mom gave in on that one too--she was raised is the Episcopal Church).
When I was in college this boy finally asked me out after weeks of flirting. He invited to his church's revival (should have been my first clue). Of course as all college girls do, I agonized over what to wear and my roommates and I finally settled on a consertive blouse and plants. When he picked me up he looked horrified--pants were a no-no at his church. Of course since I only did my laundry once a month it threw me in to a tailspin. I made us 30 minutes late to church (which was Primitive Baptist) and it was THE longest date of my life, but damn he was cute.
By the way, my live mammy's name was Levita!
Aug 18th, 2004 | 04:51 AM
#93
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
I love these stories, they're great. I must have been "Southern" in my other life (of course being hispanic it might be a stretch)I love sweettea, Southern Living magazine, southern cooking (not grits) and Elvis. Is Texas considered being "Southern?" Aunt Jemima has changed over the years, I liked the "old" picture better.What an adventure for you amatters!
Aug 18th, 2004 | 05:30 AM
#94
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 0
Oh Jayne! That was precious 
It reminds me of when I took my (now husband) to meet my relatives at our annual family reunion (brave man!).
He had only met my immediate family up until then, and there were about 100 aunts, uncles and cousins (and various other permutations of relativeness) sitting under old oak trees and chatting while the tables were laden with food. My Dad is one of 21 kids from two wives, so I have LOTS of kinfolk.
(NOT concurrently two wives of course. What a scandal THAT would be! My Grandpa's favorite saying regarding his propensity for progeny? "And not an idiot or a cripple in the bunch!")
As soon as hubby-to-be and I got out of our vehicle, every head swiveled our way in unison, and Aunt Ella - about 150 years old at the time - trumpteted in what she probably thought was a stage whisper, "is that Nancy with an Eye-tahl-yun?"
Point is, that ANY permutation away from the Southern "norm" is going to be the basis for a discussion, and it doesn't always mean that the person is narrow-minded, but I'm sure that on occasion it does. I said to my husband - who is Scottish btw - "And on that note, a big welcome to my family!"
It reminds me of when I took my (now husband) to meet my relatives at our annual family reunion (brave man!).
He had only met my immediate family up until then, and there were about 100 aunts, uncles and cousins (and various other permutations of relativeness) sitting under old oak trees and chatting while the tables were laden with food. My Dad is one of 21 kids from two wives, so I have LOTS of kinfolk.
(NOT concurrently two wives of course. What a scandal THAT would be! My Grandpa's favorite saying regarding his propensity for progeny? "And not an idiot or a cripple in the bunch!")
As soon as hubby-to-be and I got out of our vehicle, every head swiveled our way in unison, and Aunt Ella - about 150 years old at the time - trumpteted in what she probably thought was a stage whisper, "is that Nancy with an Eye-tahl-yun?"
Point is, that ANY permutation away from the Southern "norm" is going to be the basis for a discussion, and it doesn't always mean that the person is narrow-minded, but I'm sure that on occasion it does. I said to my husband - who is Scottish btw - "And on that note, a big welcome to my family!"
Aug 18th, 2004 | 06:41 AM
#95
Guest
Posts: n/a
From the world according to GoTravel:
Eastern States: Kentucky, Virginia, parts of West Virginia, Maryland.
Southern States: parts of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, parts of Oklahoma, parts of Texas.
Deep South: SC, Georgia, Alabama, parts of Texas, Miss, LA, Rural parts of Florida.
States with none of the South: Parts of Texas, Parts of Virgina, Most of Florida.
Eastern States: Kentucky, Virginia, parts of West Virginia, Maryland.
Southern States: parts of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, parts of Oklahoma, parts of Texas.
Deep South: SC, Georgia, Alabama, parts of Texas, Miss, LA, Rural parts of Florida.
States with none of the South: Parts of Texas, Parts of Virgina, Most of Florida.
Aug 18th, 2004 | 07:06 AM
#96
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,842
Likes: 4
This discussion is fun... I am even getting used to scrolling down a million miles to the next post! My neighbor with 5 kids came straight from Queens NY. She had her baby here in richmond. Well, while taking in one of the historical sites, there happened to be a Daughters of the Confederecy meeting. One of the ladies asked where they were from and the little one replied, " I was born here in Richmond VA." They then ushered in the family and remarked how nice it was to have a true southern family visiting... Needless to say when mom opened her mouth Flushing Queens just poured out... ha ha. The scene must have been something!
Aug 18th, 2004 | 08:07 AM
#98
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 850
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AnnaR--too funny--how in the world did she take a Scotsman for an Italian (unless she really was 150!). My husband's parents are each one of eight and come from the same small town in Maine. They're divorced, but both sides still participate in the family reunions. We've been to one and I felt like a fish out of water.
Go Travel: minor correction to your geographical observations! Not at all true that practically none of FL is considered Southern and rural FL is considered deep South.
The geographical dividing line is where sweet tea appears on most menus-lol--which is once you get north of Tampa where the southern roots are stronger. Some examples of "Southern" FL towns that are not rural are Ocala,Lakeland, Plant City, Lake City, Live Oak, and Marianna.
There's a good split between Southeners from north and east of FL and what are called Florida Southerners. Florida Southerners are those born and raised here which does encompass a lot of rural FL, but they don't consider themselves from the deep South because FL is such a melting pot. I was born in GA, practically on the FL line and moved south of Tampa when I was one, so technically that makes me from the deep South--I would not be considered a FL Southener unless I had grown up in one of the above or a rural area(I'm not kidding; people actually do distinguish).
Go Travel: minor correction to your geographical observations! Not at all true that practically none of FL is considered Southern and rural FL is considered deep South.
The geographical dividing line is where sweet tea appears on most menus-lol--which is once you get north of Tampa where the southern roots are stronger. Some examples of "Southern" FL towns that are not rural are Ocala,Lakeland, Plant City, Lake City, Live Oak, and Marianna.
There's a good split between Southeners from north and east of FL and what are called Florida Southerners. Florida Southerners are those born and raised here which does encompass a lot of rural FL, but they don't consider themselves from the deep South because FL is such a melting pot. I was born in GA, practically on the FL line and moved south of Tampa when I was one, so technically that makes me from the deep South--I would not be considered a FL Southener unless I had grown up in one of the above or a rural area(I'm not kidding; people actually do distinguish).
