Comments on: Stars Fell On: Things I’ve Heard in Alabama

By: Melizzard

Melizzard — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:39:00 +0000

Bless your heart, you’re missing some of the important subtleties... lunch is lunch unless it involves Mama cookin' something, then and only then does it become dinner. We have standards you know.

My dear husband (a south Florida native which is a sub-culture all its own) had trouble with the church thing until he realized our catholic neighbors weren't trying to convert him, they were just worried that he had no social life. They're good people.

Now come over here and tell me true, since you moved to Alabama, have you gotten drunker than Cooter Brown?

By: Dana

Dana — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:44:00 +0000

It is pretty much the same here in Texas. My in-laws are from Iowa and whenever I have gone up there, they laugh their butts off at how I talk.

By: theotherbear

theotherbear — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:19:00 +0000

Oh Miss Jennifer, those sayings made me laugh!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 11:53:00 +0000

Wow. Between your stories (just read all the installments) and the ones that Kristen of Motherhood Uncensored shared about Mississippi a while back … I just could never see myself living in the deep South. I’ve spent time in southeastern Virginia and NC, but those were more hybrids than true, deep South. I just think for a Yankee like me the cultural differences (especially the church thing!) might be tough to handle.

And thanks again for your e-mails. I look forward to talking to you more.

By: canape

canape — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 01:11:00 +0000

Here's one from my great uncle,

"That tastes like more's behind."

It took me forever to get what he was saying.

By: Someone Being Me

Someone Being Me — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 21:14:00 +0000

I am a native Texan and lunch is lunch and dinner is dinner for me but I understand when people say it the other way. It is also very natural for me to call people Miss Jennifer even if the lady is 80 years old. It makes me laugh that these things are odd to other people. I also totally understand the other commenter saying that everything is Coke down here. You order a coke and people ask what kind. We also say things like so and so is three sheets to the wind (drunk) or whoppyjawed (misaligned/ out of sync), or more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I love being a Southerner and it is fun to see our “culture” through other people’s eyes.

By: kendalswife

kendalswife — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:58:00 +0000

Good grief, the whole “lunch is dinner and dinner is supper” thing DRIVES ME CRAZY! Husband is from Oklahoma where they don’t do “lunch”. And I’m from Missouri, where dinner and supper are the same freaking thing! Even after 13 years of marriage I’m not used to it.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:11:00 +0000

It took me a long time after I moved to Alabama to figure out that when my co-workers said “Bless your heart…” they were MAKING FUN OF ME. Northerners have no place is a stodgy Alabama law firm, apparently. My propensity to say “That’s wicked!” really threw them off (a Maine-ism; I pick phrases up everywhere!).

The other thing that it took a while for me to figure out is that in Alabama all soda is referred to as “Coke.” Sprite is “Coke,” Pepsi is “Coke,” even Dr. Pepper is “Coke.” If it has bubbles, apparently it’s “Coke.” There are some serious brand name issues going on down there.

The Ms. Jennifer thing is also a military thing. I always found it awkward and weird to have my friends kids call me “Ms. Jenn” because the Ms. thing is so formal and Jenn is a nickname which is so informal. But, I find myself doing it with my own daughter too, so I guess I just have to get over it. It does feel slightly more polite to me to have my daughter differentiate between adults and her peers with some title of respect, no matter how small it is.

By: VDog

VDog — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:46:00 +0000

Oh my God, this is hilarious. I don't think I could stand the South. They'd hang me in like, 2 seconds flat.

You must hang in there (heh) to continue the fabulous blog material!! hahahaha.

But seriously, bless your heart, you are providing a great service.

By: The Mommy Years

The Mommy Years — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:36:00 +0000

ROTFLMAO ~ I used to just ask "why?" to the church question. Took me 4 years to realize why people thought that was rude.

Have you heard:
"That girl is dumber than a box of coat hangers, bless her heart"

Have to love MS (insert eye roll)

I still get called a Yankee when people find out I'm from NC ... that counts as Yankee around "these parts".