2017
November FROM MY PERSPECTIVE
I was raised in Decatur, GA; watched some of Stone Mountain
get carved; stood before various Generals’ statues trying to imagine what they
had to do; had to say "Yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am, no ma'am"; loved,
and still do, sweet tea (is there any other kind?), and knew what "Well,
bless her/his heart" meant (it's a gracious way of saying "That silly
fool.") "Y'all" was for
one person, "all y'all" was for more.
I still say those things which make some folks wonder what I'm saying
since I now live in the North. Catfish,
hush puppies, greens with real ham hocks, and macaroni and cheese is my
favorite supper; macaroni and cheese baked in the oven, stewed tomatoes, and
green beans with onions and ham hocks cooked in them is my second
favorite. Ladies usually wore pearls and
looked nice when they left their house, and clean underwear was a must, just in
case you’d get in an accident and have to go to the hospital. Men held doors for ladies, said, “Thank you,
ma’am”, and smiled a lot at you---I don’t know why, but it could be a signal
they know something you don’t. All of
that is culture at its finest, in my opinion.
I’m a bit partial to the old South and its ways.
Since I began this month’s column with experiences and
memories of living in the South, I’d like to tell you some of the phrases I
remember and some new ones I’ve heard.
Most are self-explanatory, but I will give explanations. “He/She’s like a fly in buttermilk.” “Lord, Honey” or “Laws, Miss Agnes”---an
expression of surprise, emphasis, or just welcoming a dialogue (it will come
before the sentence(s), after all of them (like an exclamation mark), or
somewhere in the middle (more emphasis).
“Well, shut my mouth” and sometimes you wished the person would or
somebody would. “I’m growing old here
and Christmas is a-comin’!” usually said when the time frame of action is
longer than wanted. “Still waters run
deep”. “Oh she’ll/he’ll be a blessin’ party
in hell” usually meant the person will be going there and will see some people
they know. “Well, aren’t you just
precious” usually said sarcastically in response to someone being
offensive. “Boy, he’s/she’s cuttin’
rusty today” refers to dealing with a very difficult person. “I need some switchel” refers to a drink made
with apple cider vinegar, honey, and water which some farmers drink when they
come in from reaping hay/grass/weeds/grains; it cuts the dust and dryness in
their throat. “Give me some sugar”
usually said when wanting a kiss. “Poke
her and see if she’s done with that hissy fit” refers to a gal who’s gotten
extremely angry and needs to be reminded the world doesn’t revolve around
her. One usually pokes raw bread dough
to see if it’s finished rising and can be baked. The best one I heard recently was, “Well,
butter my butt and call me a biscuit.”
I’ll holler at all y’all later.
Each of us has had daunting moments of unhappiness/feeling
all alone/feeling unloved or unwanted.
Sometimes those moments are extended to time frames we’d like to get
away from. An animal shelter is about
the best place to be when you have or have had those times. There is unconditional love and acceptance
there. In fact, you can just sit and do
nothing and a warm body will come and reassure you with a nudge, snuggle, wet
nose, or paw on your arm or leg that life will be better, even if it's just for
that moment. Nothing is expected of you,
but plenty is given to you. Peace my
friend, a peace you weren’t expecting.
Have you ever noticed, one can do a day’s Ninja workout in
10 seconds by walking into a spider’s web?
All the arm movements, kicks, lunges and bends are completed.
I find tongue twisters to be lingual calisthenics. Here is one for you: AN INTUIT INUIT INDICATED INGENUITY.
Just think, if we charged our cell phones by running on a
treadmill, we’d be about the healthiest country in North America. Mother introduced me to geometry. I had to stand in a corner after sticking my
tongue out at her. Then, Daddy came home
and told me about pie being square, but to not believe it because a total
circumference of 360 degrees is the true shape of pie.
The greatest use of life
is to spend it for something that will outlast it. ---Love will do this. Wm. James & tjr
I am a retired teacher.
I was the lead substitute in a certain high school, taught English in
the summer there, and supervised Saturday morning detention (a.k.a. Breakfast
Club), too. I liked substituting; I got
to know more students that way. I can't
say I like retirement, but age and some school administrators think one should
retire so a new person, who is less expensive, can be there instead. Now I teach via the computer to some of the
very ones I had in various classrooms.
They see me on Facebook and talk to me about their lives, troubles,
children, and want advice. They tell me,
"Life is really tough, Mz. R."
I tell them, "I was tough on you." They tell me, "Yeah you were, but you
cared…you loved us." I smile and
sometimes my eyes are moist, too.
Everyone who walks through your life leaves an imprint. The ones you loved and the listeners leave
the deepest. Thank you for your imprint
on my life.
Purple is known as a “royal” color because back when people
relied on natural dyes, purple came from sea snails and was the hardest to
extract. With that, only royals could afford it.
Too many parents make life hard for their children by
trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,
poet, dramatist, novelist, and philosopher (28 Aug 1749-1832) Put the grain of sand in their clamshell life
and encourage them to make a pearl out of themselves.
While driving recently I saw a Budweiser truck. The sign on it said, “My other ride is a
Clydesdale.” Loved it!!
I subscribe to a blog: Blog Name: Sean of
the South Blog URL: http://seandietrich.com. This man writes from his heart about everyday
things. I haven’t read a single one
which didn’t give me something to think about.
This particular entry was about a girl who wanted a chance, and a lady
who was a complete stranger did just that.
The title of the blog is CADDILAC WOMAN.
It reminded me of something which happened to me. I’m not “fluffing my feathers”---just sharing
with you. Here is what I wrote:
“There’s a lump in my throat. This is a happening familiar
to me. He is covered in tattoos; rougher than rough looking; a
don’t-fool-with-me look on his face all the time; has spent some time on the
back side of jail bars for something “stupid” he’d done as a youth; has a
“family” of fellas who will come to his assistance, if he needs them, or yours
if you tell him; and is a minister at the mission where down-trodden men seek
refuge. He shared all this with me as we sat and talked about when he was my
student. He laughed telling me how he remembers I wouldn’t let him in my
classroom if he had anger bottled up. He laughed when he said, “Sometimes, if
you remember, I had to stand in the hall for 10 minutes before you’d let me in
because you told me, ‘For 45 minutes you will not carry that anger with you.’ ”
Yes, I remembered. He was starting his own business of landscaping and mowing
grass. I didn’t need his services, but his statement of, “If I could just have
a chance, I can make this business work.” That was the key, “have a chance”,
for him to take care of my 2+ acres of yard. That was 4 years ago. He told me I
am like a second mother to him; I told him he’s like a son to me. He often
says, ‘Thanks, Mz. R (that’s what he calls me), for giving me a chance.”
A friend of mine told of her conversation with her
husband. “Me- I may be an overprotective
B!tch of a mother, but I'm not a helicopter mom, am I?” John- “Umm, no. You're more of a carousel mom...every
full revolution ya go off!” Real talk
here- This is why our marriage works.
We’ve gone a bit without a “Connor-ism”. He’s come up with a special way to tell
time. His mother said, “‘Ner, what time
is it?” Connor (Ner): “Eleventy thirty
seven.” Makes sense to me.
Brenduhh ordered some coffee at a coffee shop. Here’s her order, “I want ½ Half & Half
and ½ half of whole milk and ½ of vanilla caramel creamer.” She told me the clerk walked away muttering
something.
PEACE to you…………Trudy
