SOUTHERN HERITAGE

(sigh)

We really DO say "y'all."

Southern heritage runs deep and has nuances that are both tangible and intangible. The intangibles include an intrinsic view of life and an uncomplicated philosophy of God, family and tradition; pride in where we're from and who we are; the community spirit of singing carols standing around the town Christmas tree; shivering in the open-air sunrise service at Easter; knowing the ice cream truck will be circling the neighborhoods for at least eight months of the year; understanding that we'll wave to you whether we know you or not; the headiness of those fragrant gardenias in spring and awe-inspiring beauty of azaleas in full bloom; that when we say, "Bless your heart," we mean it from the bottom of ours. 

The tangibles wrap themselves around those majestic magnolia trees with the luminous leaves and startling white blossoms; Smithfield ham; big front porches with rocking chairs. It's southern towns you miss if you blink -- towns with silly names like Sunbeam, Unity or Wise; or with Indian names like Zuni, Ivor, Rappahannock, Tuscarora; having folks just mosey up at dinner time to sit a spell, drink a glass of sweet tea or a cup of fresh-perked coffee; buttermilk biscuits soaked in honey; mother/daughter dresses (which would be laughed at today -- but I was always proud to be dressed like my mom).

I was in my forties before I realized how important my southern heritage is to me. The south is a place where parents still read to their children at night; where grace is said before meals; where parental respect is a given; where going to church means wearing your "Sunday best;" where "ma'am" and "sir" are said by adults as well as children; where manners are not TAUGHT, but LIVED. The south is a place of substance, a place of belonging, not just to family but to the culture itself.I've lost some of the accent I grew up with by virtue of having lived in various parts of the country over the years, but it's still there to some extent. I hope to always retain it -- it doesn't define who I am, but it gives validity to having been raised in a place where our footsteps tread more softly.
(sigh)