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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Northern or Southern?

Well, Wow, thanks for the emails and the comments about my last blog.... first let me explain about the title...twice around the edge once across the middle refers to how you stir the apple butter. Once around to the right and up the middle then to the left and up the middle.


One comment I got was about my word slathered. I was accused of making up new words for my blog. Well I didn't make it up and when I looked it up in Merriam Webster the definition is to spread thickly or lavishly. I have heard this word ever since I was small. It could be that it is a southern expression and northerners haven't heard of it.

And for you Northerners here is a few ways you can tell a true Southerner.

The difference between a Northern fairy tale and a Southern fairy tale, you ask??
A Northern fairy tale starts out "Once upon a time.."
A Southern fairy tale starts out "Ya'll ain't gonna believe this

All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who’s got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor’s trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'.

Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right fur piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be one mile or 20.

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.

A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines ... And when we’re in line, we talk to everybody!

In the South, y’all is singular .... All y’all is plural.

Northern girls say you can. Southern girls say y'all can.

Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.

Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it - we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don’t want buttermilk.

And a true Southerner knows you don’t scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say, "Bless her heart"...And go your own way.

And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff ... Bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin’ to have classes on Southernness as a second language!

And for those who are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y’all need a sign to hang on y’all's front porch that reads "I ain’t from the South, but I got here as fast as I could."

And in the words of my father, "That's Hit fer Today".

5 comments:

Karon said...

Yes, this blog is great. I'm a southern girl, born and raised in the south and proud of it. You nailed it girlfriend.

Hugs, Karon

Rod Ivers said...

Jenny your outdoin yourself on these blogs, keep up the good work!
I read yesterday's applebutter to Loyce and she really liked it. Wanted to know more about you, that was fun!
Rod

Debbie and Rod said...

There's also a big difference between us "city folk". I'm really getting an education here. Thanks Jenny

Debbie

Tumbleweed Dee said...

Now that's a perfect blog! I'm a true midwesterner but married a Southern guy. What a difference and the words you wrote and very true. I'm still alearn'n

Leno said...

Jenny,
In the northeast we used the word slathered all the time. I enjoyed reading your posts.