I can look around me and know in a full two seconds that we aren’t in Minnesota anymore. We spent our first five days or so in the mountains with family, then drove five hours over to Myrtle Beach for a short but much needed vacation before the renovating/moving chaos got underway. (This explains my blogging view last week.) Neither of those things were anywhere near us in our great northern state and it’s LOVELY to know we can relax by a mountain stream or on a sandy beach without too much time in the car with three energetic little boys.
But I’d like to share a few other short examples that have quickly reminded me that I’m not only not in Minnesota anymore… I’m in a different culture altogether. Southern climate and culture is much different than the upper midwest, mostly Norwegian culture I’ve been surrounded by these past 10 years. And I really shouldn’t call it “culture shock”, I mean, I grew up in the Deep South (And I mean deep…the panhandle of Florida, South Georgia, and Northern Mississippi were the places I called home for 17 years). But I think there are just certain circumstances, traditions and habits that I hardly noticed then that I am well aware of now having been away for so long. So without further ado… here are just a few:
1. Hey there, Sweetie!
Ok, so in my growing up years I can’t recall to you how many times I was called “Sweetie”, “Sugar”, “Honey”, “Baby”, or “Darlin”. And I’m not referring to a bunch of cat calling, hooping and hollering rednecks in a pickup. Nope, I’m talking about the waitress at our local restaurant, the check out lady at the gas station, the cashier at the grocery store, and the little old lady at church. If someone doesn’t know your name in southern culture, any one of these is considered a valid substitution. It was when I walked up to pay for my peanut m&ms (I am of the steadfast opinion that these ought to be prescribed to all mothers traveling with young children), and the cashier called me Sweetie and Baby all within the same conversation that I knew exactly where I was. And I really didn’t mind. In fact, it was kind of comforting and sweet to hear this again after so long away.
2. Walmart Has Jesus Shirts!
Now, in MN, I might see a few “Blessed Girl” T’s here and there, but to be out shopping at Walmart and see T-shirts racks with some non-corny Christian designs and quite a few of them to choose from, well, it’s just not something you find so much up north. And I don’t mean shirts that simply say “Faith”, “Love”, or “Pray”… I mean some solid, scripture based shirts. (Now, to be clear, I said Walmart… Target wouldn’t even think of it, in the South or anywhere else for that matter…. bless [and maybe convict] their little hearts.) Anywho, I don’t often buy Christian T’s for the sake of how cheesy they can be, but I actually found a few that I was proud to wear and was excited that I even had the option! Oh… and they were in the guys section, but, hey, I bought a size smaller than I normally would and it worked!
(Note: To be fair to every culture and state, this generally points more to the conservative vibe and “cultural Christianity” of the south than anything else. Though it’s often called the “Bible Belt”, I don’t see the South as anymore saved or Christian than anywhere else in the country… but maybe that’s another blog for another day, ha!)
3. What Is Sonic???
Y’all… y’all, y’all, y’all… those horrifying words actually came out of my child’s mouth and I just about died. We were leaving Derek’s sisters house and something cold sounded lovely so I told Derek we should run by Sonic. From the back seat I heard my 6 year old: “No, I don’t want to go to Sonic! …What… what’s Sonic??”
Ya know, I’ve never once thought it hurt my children in any way to be raised in the North but that one terrible sentence made me question everything. It’s clear to me that I’m back in the South, seeing as there is a Sonic on every street corner. I mean, they’re in MN… all two of them, but to have the option of grabbing an Ocean Water, or a real strawberry slush, or a Sonic Blast at a moments whim is priceless! Now, I must simply educate my children in Sonic Culture (Oh, and Cracker Barrel Culture… and McAlister’s sweet tea culture) so they don’t grow up to be complete ignoramuses.
(A note to all of my health nut friends: Normally I’m with you, but if you’re thinking just now, “Goodness, your children are obviously better off without such junk and nonsense” … well, I’m just not sure we can be friends. Just kidding, I love you, but seriously, no judging!)
4. I’m Glistening Again!
I realize more than ever as I’m back in the not-even-summer-yet heat of the south, that I’m starting to glisten again. I’ve hardly glistened in years.
I glisten!
I shimmer!
I shine!
I. sweat. like. a. pig.
Whenever people in MN have the audacity to say it’s humid, I laugh… maybe right in front of them sometimes. Because, I’m sorry, but MN knows nothing of humidity. Truth be told, NC/TN aren’t even as bad as they could be. (Florida, Georgia and Mississippi take the cake any day!) But I am noticing that my make-up runs a little quicker, my hair frizzes a bit more, and my underarms dampen in the same unattractive manner that they used to. That is certainly one part of the south that I haven’t missed so much and it’s going to take some getting used to!
5. “Everything Can Kill You.”
This was another phrase from my 6 year old that I think I might frame and stick on the wall. See, since our boys have been raised in the north, as a general rule, they’ve been able to touch and pick up every living thing they come across. There’s hardly anything poisonous in Minnesota and we’ve loved that fact. But for the safety of our little guys, we had to give them a little lesson on the fact that you simply can’t assume that the bug, spider or snake in front of you won’t hurt you. We weren’t trying to scare them. We weren’t trying to traumatize them. But we failed. They now feel deep seated fear at every small living thing to cross their paths. They think every fire ant, bumble bee, wasp, spider and hidden snake in the bushes is just waiting to jump out and eat them.
I’ve tried explaining that both their Daddy and I grew up down here and we both survived but it’s not really making a dent. Just the other day, from the backseat, I could hear Ryan educating Elijah on our current situation: “Here, everything can eat you and poison you.” So yeah, there’s that.
I’ll Acclimate
So, it’s not all good or all bad. It’s just life. It’s just a different place, a different culture, a different set of traditions. All of it is near and dear (well, most of it’s dear) to my heart and there’s a comfort to be back where I grew up and a familiarity with my surroundings that I had forgotten. Some things are lovely. Some things less so. In some ways, it’ll take some time to acclimate, in other ways, I’ll jump back in with no problem at all! Back to my roots and who knows how it might grow me!
Taking the good with the bad: the sweet tea, bugs, and culture shock.
More next week regarding our Chip and Joanna Gaines reno on our new house!
(Just kidding… we just like to think of ourselves that way. Anywho, till next time!)
My Family Freedom 