January 21, 2008

Only A Southerner Knows...

I know that not just southerners know most of these little "tidbits", but I thought it might be fun to "explain" some of our "southern speak".
1. Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit and that you don't "HAVE" them you "PITCH" them.
2. Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc. make up a "mess".
3. Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."
4. Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is - as in "Going to town, be back directly."
5. Even Southern babies know that "gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl on the middle of the table.
6. 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 ol' bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large 'nana puddin'!
7. Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy and po' white trash.
8. A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb or an adverb.
9. Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines. We don't do "queues" we do "lines" and when we're "in line" we talk to everybody!
10. Southerners never refer to one person as "ya'll".
11. Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk". Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it---we don't like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.
12. And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little ol' ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say "Bless her heart" and go your own way (besides, it might be your mama)!

SOUTHERNESS - Someone once noted that a Southerner can get away with the most awful kind of insult just as long as it's prefaced with the words "Bless her heart" or "Bless his heart."

You know you are in the presence of a true southerner if they say something like:
I've got to "carry" my mama to the doctor;" OR
"Cut off the light"; OR
"I'm fixin" to do something; OR
Bless their hearts, they don't know where "yonder" is or what "I reckon" means.

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!

Thanks to http://www.rockinghamremembered.com/ for this cute reminder of all things southern!

14 comments:

Kelly said...

I Love it!!!!! So true!

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Judy,
I got your email this morning and I will email you back later. "THANK YOU" for the info. I do appreciate it very much. I loved reading your things of a Southerner. Gotta love the South huh? LOL. Bless your little heart. LOL. Hey, reckon I need to enroll in one of those Southerner classes? LOL. I am having fun with this because I'm a true Southerner myself. "THANK YOU" for sharing this with us. I really enjoyed it. Take care my friend and have a great day. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

bj said...

I'm from the South so I understand everything that was listed here!:)
Now, I'm fixin to go have a cup of tea....
hugs, bj

bj said...

Hi, again, Judy girl....
I didn't realize you were the same Judy as on RMS...oh, yes, I do remember your lovely, rooster-filled kitchen. Have you posted it on your blog? If not, PLEASE do...I would love to see it again and I know everyone else would, also.
Thanks so much for coming by...isn't this blogging so much fun!!>!!
hugs, bj

Jenn Thorson said...

Reading your great Southernisms has suddenly made me want to dive back into a Flannery O'Connor or Fannie Flagg story, or revisit Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird". :) You certainly can't beat the south for tone and atmosphere.

Debra from Bungalow said...

I loved reading those Southern things! I'll have to find some Northern things to compare.

Thanks for the kind comments on my blog, I really appreciate it! To answer your question,
I made all my window treatments, but they were so easy, do you sew? The kitchen valance is a McCall's pattern.
Have a great Day, DebraK

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

LOL! As a transplant from up North I had to chuckle at these! I enjoyed reading these!

Manuela

Southern Heart said...

These are so, so true! although I do use "bless your/his/her heart" in a *nice* way. ;)

Your Mama won the Kate Remembered book on my blog...I hope that she'll enjoy it as much as I did! Please email me your mailing address and I will get it into the mail so that she can start reading it soon.

xo, Andrea

truesouthernheart at yahoo dot com

Michelle said...

I love this post! Thanks for enlightening me..

Michelle

Rhondi said...

Hi Thanks for the lesson in speaking Southern. It will be very useful for me because I am a Canadian now living in the south. I heard an addition to "bless her heart"... bless her heart and butter her a biscuit! I understood some of what you siad so I guess I am learning. This is my first visit an dI enjoyed it. I'll be back Rhondi

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Judy,
I just wanted to drop by and let you know that I have tagged you for a Meme. When you have time, stop by and visit to see the details. I do hope you will participate when you have time. Take care my friend and have a great day. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

Mary said...

Judy,
As a northerner, and someone who always drives too fast, I will try "Bless her heart" the next time I'm stuck behind a little old lady driving 30 MPH. I'll let you know how that works out. LOL
xoxo,
Mary

Lamp Tramp said...

Hi Judy
I loved this post, I am a true Southern lady now despite the fact I was born and raised in the North. Glad to be back home, I'll email you tomorrow to see what you've been up to. Had a wonderful, productive week...am feeling so happy!
xoxo, Sandi

FrenchGardenHouse said...

So very cute!!

And even though I'm not a Southerner, I reseble #'s 1,4,5, 9, and 12!:)

Thanks so much for visiting me and entering my blog GIVE AWAY!

xo Lidy

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