Hi, Y'all!

Although I live in Alabama, I did not grow up as a southern girl. And, as I have been told on numerous occasions, "You will never be considered a true southerner because you weren't born and raised here."

So, I guess the fact that I have lived here since the early 80's (and my parents and brother have since moved here too) doesn't equate to being southern born and southern bred. That's okay, I can accept that fact (and I have). Perhaps if my name was Scarlett O'hara I might have been cut some slack...LOL!

I suppose that if I still lived in New Jersey, I wouldn't ever be able to get my mind around calling anyone from Alabama a northerner either - - even if they had lived in the Garden State for over 20 years and named their son Franco, Jr.

Don't get me wrong, although I miss certain things about being up north (like pizza and bagels and delis and boardwalks), I really do love living in the south and I am thrilled to be raising my child here.

I love the fact that it's okay to talk about the Lord with your co-workers and they don't look at you as if you were crazy. I love the fact that being active in a church youth group is cool. I love the fact that children say, "Yes, m'am and No, m'am and Yes, sir and No, sir." I love the fact that the girl in the check-out line smiles at me and always says, "Hi, how are you doing today?" I love the fact that if you like country music that's okay (and almost expected...LOL!). Truth be told, I love a whole lot of things about the south and that is why I chose to remain here.

In the 25 years I have lived in what's called the Heart of Dixie, I have also come to realize that there are some very unique ways to say things and/or express yourself. Case in point.

After having left my only home and family at the Jersey Shore, and being in Alabama for only a week, I went to the local grocery store to pick up a few items for my dorm room refrigerator. The lady walking ahead of me turned around and politely asked me if I wanted a "buggy"? You can imagine the stunned and confused look on my face when I said, "Excuse me?" Heck, I thought she was talking about the thing that's attached to a horse...no wonder I was confused! I still laugh about that today.

Actually, I still chuckle about many of the unique words/statements I hear around me every single day. For instance, people:

1. Mash buttons. I push buttons (I do, however, mash potatoes).

2. Carry you places (which I am sure can get very tiring...LOL!). I drive people to their destinations.

3. Get sick on their stomach. I get sick to or in my stomach.

4. Bar-rey something from someone. I borrow it.

5. Order a coke and then specify what flavor, i.e. Sprite, Dr. Pepper, etc. Wait, I thought that by law, coke was only that brown stuff in a red can?

6. Say yella and winda. I say yellow and window.

7. Get bowed up on someone. I get mad at them.

These are just a few of the southernisms that I have grown accustomed to and find endearing about the place in which I live and the place I now call home (even if I am still considered one of them Yankees).

My son, well, this morning he told me that he was fixin' to wash the car with his grandfather...so I guess he's a true southern boy after all...LOL!