Whether it's a simple phrase, an activity or what I call something, people always point out my southern background. It's easy to assume I get the common question, "Where are you from?" I respond with "Ninety-Six, South Carolina." If only I had a dollar for every jaw drop I get or the, "Not the year you were born, the town name?"
Though I live in a big city now, I've decided to trace back to my small town southern roots and create this list that looks familiar if you're from a small southern town.
1. Your parents or grandparents have threatened to "have your hide" if you misbehaved.
2. If you went to a friends house, your parents told their parents to spank you like their own kids if you misbehaved.
3. If you have older siblings, you can pretty much guarantee that you will have teachers who have taught them as well.
4. Similar to #3, your school teacher was probably also your Sunday school teacher at some point.
5. You can hear the announcer at the football game on Friday night in any location of the town.
6. The best hot dogs you've ever had in your life came from the Tire & Oil shop.
7. You give directions by saying: "Y'all gone go ehh... 5 miles and some change down this here road and when you pass the church up yonder on the left you'll pull right on in."
Whoever you gave those directions to knew exactly what you meant somehow.
8. The beauty queens have titles that seem bizarre if you aren't familiar with the area
Example: Miss Gold Rush, Miss Tractor Pull, Miss Festival of Stars, Miss Hoe Down. Said titles are an honor to have.
9. You have hung out in a Wal-Mart parking lot while in high school.
10. It is completely normal to go hunting or fishing as a first date and then go to a bonfire after.
11. You see just as many tractors and golf carts as you do cars.
12. It was never "Hello!" It was "Hey man how's the world treatin' ya?" Or "Haaaaay! How's ya mom an' 'em?!"
13. You've gotten this text plenty of times: "Y'all wanna ride back roads tonight?"
14. You were in the FFA class in high school. You just were there's no reason why other than you just were.
15. You've had the same people in your class from K5 to 12th grade.
16. Your first job was working for your dad or at the only grocery store your town had.
17. "The horses got out of the fence" was an ideal and legitimate reason for being late somewhere.
18. No matter who you date, your dad or grandpa knows them and their entire family.
19. Getting a new kid in school was like Christmas.
20. "We can't go we already have plans to go to the Mudd Bogg."
Y'all come back now, ya hear?
