Way Back...

Happy Huntin' Season...

surely this is a Southern ritual as there is no way we were actually hunting at this age.

And let it be know, that was the only time anything Tiger related was a favorite part of my wardrobe.

Simply Southern: Your People

We down here in the deep south are known for our hospitality, our manners and our general demeanor of life... which is all just because non-natives don't know the language.

In our family, but across southern hometowns everywhere, there are subtle hints in verbiage which are given indicators of something being inferred....

The most over-done now publicized is of course the "Bless your/her/his/their heart" phrase which covers a multitude of family histories/situations/prayer requests that got too in depth and on and on. It's a weighted free-pass to explain more than needed so that everyone really knows the whole picture.

My favorite however, is a family phenomenon: its called the "your people" syndrome. This is often the lead in to conversations about what someone did that would also warrant a "bless their heart" but it is such a common occurrence that it is now more conversationally acceptable to say.... "YOUR mother did this..."

Let's look at the whole context of this:

Phone rings. Its a sibling or an aunt or some other family member. The conversation starts: "Guess what YOUR mother did today??" and then some story about how something completely preposterous went down follows afterward. This can also come after an incident with family member in a public family setting. For example, your mother says something completely haywire (obviously, not MY mother, since she reads this blog and all, but YOUR mother, quite possibly) to which your sister will turn to you and say "Well, she's YOUR mother!"

Seriously y'all. If you can't pick up on the disclaimer through emphasis you'll never survive the Southern dialogue that awaits you in the deep south. Then, unfortunately, it might come down to YOU being someone else's people.

Simply Southern: Driving Directions

One of the finer aspects of Southern living is the simplicity of driving directions. There are mostly landmarks to guide your path, and street names are secondary as such. Here are things you need to know to understand directions given by your Southern friends:

1. Minutes = miles. If we its "10 minutes to so and so" that minutes can be exchanged for miles. Travel time equals miles of distance in 9 out of 10 cases, and we measure distance in minutes and hours more than miles. It's just that way. You don't have to figure in traffic times, red lights, construction or other factors...other than the occasional tractor, that is.
2. When we say "just go until you get to the next stop sign." That's what we mean. You could go 2 blocks or you could go 10 miles, either way, until you get to a stop sign, you are still on the right road and there is no need to panic.
3. We give relative directions, so if you don't know where "so and so lives" then you should ask. Because we can clarify with house color and relativeness to another landback as many times as we need to and we will. Even if its turn by turn directions based on house color and what's across the road from where you will turn. 
4. There are roads that will cease being pavement and turn to dirt. Or vise versa. Heed the signs, you don't want to be flying down pavement and hit red dirt.. just trust me on that.
5. It is not in bad taste to not pass a slow truck or moving tractor. Just be sure you wave. If you stay behind them and clog up the lane by making it impassable for others to get around you and the tractor in the same pass you will get the stink eye.

Simply Southern: Get Your Wave On

There are unique aspects to every demographic and location, but those of the Deep South, where I call home, are by far my favorite collection. The South has its own pace, its own style, its own traditions and its own ways of doing day-to-day life... and trust us, we wouldn't do it any other way.

One thing we Southerners always do while driving: wave. Doesn't matter if you know them or not, whether you are coming or going, rushing or taking a "Sunday afternoon drive."  Even so, it is important to note the distinction of each type of wave, as no two are created equal.

The Solo Finger: This is the common greeting thrown over the top of steering wheels while driving. It has no personal connotation, but is used when meeting any and all vehicles in the opposing lane, which by the way, is 95% two-lane.

The One-&-A-Half - A step above the Solo Finger, this involves the full finger raise of the pointer and at least a moderate raise of a secondary finger, normally the ring finger. Also without personal connotation, this is often used when the hand is out the window instead of on the wheel, but can be used as an wheel greeting as well.

The Whole Hand  - Now you are getting somewhere, this means I know you! It can be thrown over the top of the steering wheel or accomanied by an arm raise from the elbow up out the window.

The Over Wave - This, oh this one, this one is for those of us who are not good at spotting people we know in oncoming traffic. This wave is usually reserved for immediate family or close friends whom you encounter in passing often. It says "HEY! You there! That I know and that never recognizes me in my vehicle! I'm HERE!"

The Quick Throw: This one, this one means "whoops, you almost got by me" When caught last minute in a wave situation and then recognizing the person in the other vehicle at or near the time of passing, the Quick Throw involves the entire arm being thrown up or out, because we all know, you either go big, or go home