Tuesday, September 05, 2006

'Southernness'


(Here you see 2 southern girls in 1982- My sis and me, in my rose garden...and 'Junie Rose' in 1972)

~~~~~~

I got this in an E-mail!


There's lotsa useful information in them-there words...


Southernness

Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.
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Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."
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Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."
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Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, ... as in: "Going to town, be back directly."
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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 in the middle of the table.
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All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.
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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 bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana
puddin!


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Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.
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Only a Southerner, both knows and understands, the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.
THIS-is a good ol' boy!

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No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
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A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
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Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ... and when we're "in line," .... we talk to everybody!
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Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.
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Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
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Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
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When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!
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Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.
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And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say,"Bless her heart" . and go your own way.
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To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southernness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!
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And 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!
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And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but I got here as fast as I could! "
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Junie Rose

14 comments:

  1. I tried to comment earlier, but blogger was being a beast. Although I'm CA born and bred, my dad's side was all from KY.
    I grew up hearing many of these expressions from his side of the family..

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  2. Hi Sue,

    Yes- I've been having lot's of blogger problems too!

    ;)

    Yes-all these expressions I heard all my life...but am hearing less of as the older generation goes! It's kinda sad, really!

    I wish I could write down all the expressions my mom used. I'm afraid in time they will all be forgotten!

    Junie

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  3. I thought some of these expression were very funny. I am from the north and haven't heard many of these. LOL!!!
    I enjoyed reading these.

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  4. Hi Lori,

    :) Thanks for coming by Junie's Place.

    Yes, some (or all) DO sound funny> Even to me-and I am from the south!

    ....but many are dear to my heart, too, because I heard most of them all my life as I was growing up!

    Junie

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  5. So true, Northerners just don't know how to properly pitch a hissie fit - really sad. ec

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  6. Sadder still is their not knowing the pleasures of eating GRITS! :(

    Junie

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  7. Anonymous4:17 AM

    Hello June ~~ Great post of sayings and
    good photos of you and your sister and you and Charles. Glad he is a good ol' boy. Thanks for the comment on my new blog which seems to be working. I lost
    EVERYTHING from heronsnest, 251 posts.
    Luckily I had printed most of them
    I hope you and Charles are keepinh well
    Take care, have a nice day. Merle.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous5:38 AM

    Loved the Southern definitions, I think there may be some of the "indicator on but not turning", driving around here in Aussieland. Thanks for all your comments on my posts. I am slowly learning to navigate my way around this blogging thing. Take care Margaret.

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  9. Hello Margaret,

    Thanks very much for visiting my blog.

    It's good to see you're learning your way around the blogs.
    Hope you'll continue to enjoy it.

    Have a good day.

    Juniemkfdrjbm

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  10. Merle,

    Thanks- Glad you enjoyed the post and pictures- old and new!

    It's too bad about losing all of your original blog site.
    I hope that doesn't happen to me!! I haven't backed up any of mine! :(


    Take care,

    June

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  11. Anonymous8:21 AM

    Some glamorous chicks in those photos June, we should combine and do a dictionary of Oz and Southerneres

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  12. Hi Peter,

    Lol- 'Glamorous chicks/" Well, thanks anyway-tho that is a stretch!! haha...Still- a pity what passing time can do, eh? :)
    (I'm kidding, of course! I'm very happy with this period of my life-so far!!)

    HA- a dictionary-comparing Oz to Southern USA- sounds like fun! :)

    June

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  13. I really enjoyed these ones here, sugar! LOL!

    Was gonna comment the other day, but Blooger wouldn't let me.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 'Blogger' can be a mean ole cuss when he wants to be! :(

    Seems like everybody has been having trouble!

    :) Some of these WERE very funny! And I reckon it stands to reason that they were all known to me! heehee

    Junie

    ReplyDelete