Southernisms

Asking questions and learning about other cultures brings me joy. I also enjoy trying to convey our way of thinking to people who are not from the South. 

What’s it like growing up in the south?” You asked. Well, it’s like growing up anywhere else in the world. The way we talk, the food we eat, and the traditions we have cultivated. At least, that’s what I thought until I moved to the far North. Almost as far North as you can go in the U.S. After moving to Alaska, I realized everything normal to me may not seem normal to everyone else. Moving to Frozen North was a culture shock, but now that I’ve done it, I wouldn’t change it for anything. Being around people different than me has taught me so much about myself and my culture—the positive things and the things I need to change. Since we’ve been here, we’ve met people from around the globe. Enjoy my small gift of conveying the people and places that have formed who I am. Feel free to laugh with us if you’re not from the South. You can bet we laugh at things you do and say, too.

In the South, plums aren’t only a fruit. A plum can also be an adverb. “That’s plum silly what he did.”

“Bless your heart” can mean many things in the South. It can mean, “I’m sorry you feel bad.” Or “Thank you.” If someone does something nice. We also jokingly say, “You can say whatever you want to about someone if you follow up with “Bless their heart.”

“Hunky Dory” means everything is good.

“Fit to be tied” means I’m upset.

“Fair to Middling” means I’m okay.

“What in the Sam Hill” means “What’s going on here?”

Thar you go folks. I hope you enjoyed my Southernisms. Email me if you want more.

Until next time,

Shelly