Reasons I love living in the South

Occasionally I am frustrated by things here. The slower pace took some getting used to. Especially when I lived in Alabama, where they take slow to a whole new level. Buying 3 things at the grocery meant at least 28 minutes in line, since the cashier would be so unbelievably chatty while scanning items ever-so-painfully-slowly. But you adjust, and it’s nice to be laid-back, right?

Tonight I was reminded of one of the biggest things I love about living where I do. It was the school talent show, and we had a great time. Most striking were the song selections. As a former Yankee, I can assure you that there would be some uproar up north, but down here no one bats an eye when 6 year olds in public school sing songs about God. Love that! We got to hear Annie singing and signing ‘Awesome God’, and other children singing songs like ‘This Little Light of Mine’ and ‘I’m in the Lord’s Army.’ Also, this being the south, we were treated to young’uns singing drinking, cheating country songs as well. Awesome.

Seriously, there was no screenage of the lyrics for appropriate content. I don’t know what some of the parents were thinking. They ranged from the mildly out of place (5 year old singing Hannah Montana’s ‘If We Were a Movie’- can’t the star-crossed lovers bit wait until at least 1st grade?) to the moderately strange (1st grade boy singing Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ – sample lyric: you be the prince and I’ll be the princess… ooookay.) to the downright what in the sam heck are these parents thinking? (Another Taylor Swift moment – 6 year old girls singing ‘Should Have Said No’ – yes, a lovely cheating song with the refrain: You should’ve said no, you should’ve gone home You should’ve thought twice before you let it all go You should’ve known that word, bout what you did with her Would get back to me…And I should’ve been there, in the back of your mind I shouldn’t be asking myself why You shouldn’t be begging for forgiveness at my feet…You should’ve said no, baby and you might still have me) Only in the south. Up north we’d have heard rap. Or heavy metal.

But back to my main point – only in the south would no one bat an eye at Christian music being sung in public school. (ssshhh, don’t tell, but there’s even a nice little note on the bathroom mirror about God watching over your day. I say a little prayer of thanks every time I see it.)

Other great things about the south:

-gun racks in trucks. Now hang on a minute, don’t leave me. These are actually wonderful things. Those gun racks belong to redneck men who know how to use those guns, and they aren’t afraid of doing so. If I’m attacked in the Wal-Mart parking lot, I can guarantee you that one of those gun-toting guys will come to my rescue in two seconds flat. Seems counter intuitive to city folk I know, but guns all around do not make me nervous, they make me feel secure. You just have to be rural to appreciate that.

-y’all. I know that’s so basic, but I love it. I’ve always been a y’all kinda gal, even when I lived up north. Where I’m from everyone said y’uns, like ‘Are y’uns guys going to the game?’ That just doesn’t flow like y’all.

-panic over even the slightest snowfall. It’s ridiculous the way these people fall apart if we get an inch of snow. Yet for a girl who knows how to drive in the now, it’s kind of empowering too. I feel empowered so infrequently, I’ll take it however I can get it.

-the Bible belt. Sort of like #1 I know, but it’s worth repeating. I love the way professions of faith are part of normal everyday conversation here, and they roll off the tongues of complete strangers in line at the bank. I am surrounded by believers who are so open and honest in their faith, it’s truly inspiring. As I write this post I have the news on tv, and after a tragic story the anchor just said, ‘When something like that happens, all I can do is pray.’ To which the weatherman and the other anchor immediately added ‘Amen.’ I never saw that in Pennsylvania.

-getting directions. Forget route numbers or compass directions. Down here you’ll need to know landmarks, including those that are no longer there, and in fact have not been there for decades. I lived in Louisville for about a week before I could tell you where the old Sears building was. There’s no way to get to Target without knowing that. Asking how to get to the farmer’s market will involve an answer something like ‘After the cornfield, turn left at the red mailbox and go down until you see the cow pasture, then take a right by where old Marshey’s barn used to be before the fire [of '86] and go ’bout a mile or so until you run into a bunch of pines on the left side of the road. Slow down and look out for a gravel road. You can’t miss it.’ Beautiful.

-chivalry. It’s not dead people, it’s just concentrated. Down here. Gentlemen are in the south! Men who will still hold a door open for you, offer to let you step in front of them in line, volunteer to carry heavy packages, reach things on high store shelves, and call you ma’am while they do it. Just yesterday, as I left the grocery store with 3 kids and a cart full in the pouring rain, a nice gentleman insisted on unloading my bags for me while I buckled up the girls. And he took the cart back for me too. And no, he didn’t work there. In fact, he wasn’t even leaving, he was on his way in to the store when he saw me and offered to help. Chris has been out of town and it’s been a long week, and let me tell you my friends, at that beautiful moment I could have cried with gratitude.

So there you have it, my top 7 reasons to love living down yonder. I’ll be adding to the list in the future – stay tuned. And y’all come visit us down here!

PS) Since I know you are dying to see it…

Don’t forget to turn off the music player at the bottom of the page first!