A friend shared this song on Facebook and it always makes me cry.
Right after high school, I went to Utah to visit a girlfriend and stayed out west (lived in Utah, Idaho and Washington) until I was 50.
It was embarrassing at 18 to be a legal secretary and answer the phone and the caller would say “Hey Honey!!! Where ya’ll from???” I was embarrassed because everyone knew that I was from the south because of my accent. There was no hiding it. I felt others assumed all people from the south were racists, rednecks and uneducated.
It took me a lot of years and a lot of visits “back home” to NC to make me realize I was proud to be from the south…from the country. I was proud of the goodness in the hearts of most southerners…the friendliness when you visited…how you can walk into a small store and complete strangers strike up a conversation with you.
When I turned 50 I moved back to NC. A few years later I moved to Kentucky for a few years and my daughter, Heather, came to live with us for a bit. We lived in Owingsville, KY….very, very rural.
Heather came home from work one day and said “I’m tired of everyone flipping me off out here!!” When I asked what she was doing when it happened, she said she was just driving down the rural roads and the passing car would “flip her off”.
I began to laugh as I realized it was the typical rural southern thing of one driver holding up the pointer finger as they pass another driver on a quite road in recognition of the other person…kind of a “Hi, how ya’ doing?”. She had been flipping them off in return.
Yes, I am proud to be from the country. I think for the most part southerners are some of the kindest, most giving people in the country. It’s a place where “Bless your heart” doesn’t mean what many believe ~ that someone is talking down to you like you are dumb. It’s a place where “Bless your heart” is a verbal hug…sharing affection….sharing that southern love.
I’m so happy to be HOME.
Great story one I completely empathise with. I live close to London in the UK. It’s lost it’s character and can be a lonely corporate place. My main home is in rural France a small farming community. When I am there Rose I feel like I’m living in Heaven. Everyone in the village helps each other, they are like family. We work eat and share together ❤️❤️
Thanks for sharing your story, Bob. Sounds heavenly.
Another beautiful life story. My mother was not from the south but she said “Bless your heart” and I never thought about it as a verbal hug but I will now. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Irene. I don’t remember if I ever met your mom, but she must have been an amazing woman…look what she “made” in you. Love you, my sweet friend.
You are so sweet to say that about my mom. I miss her. I think you may have met her at the baby shower for me that you hosted. I came across the invitation recently. I’m so thankful to have you as a dear friend for almost half a century. Love you, Rose 💕