Being from Tennessee, there are some things that seem normal. The everyday life is just like every other state; there are small towns, big cities and traditions that everyone knows about. Although some days can be so typical, most of them are not. Honestly, what would your state or hometown be without those traits that make them who they are. Here in Tennessee we go big or we go home and these are just some ways we stick out more than the average state. Enjoy and at least try to resist the urge to want to visit us here in the Volunteer state.
1. Going downtown and seeing every tourist with a cowboy hat on.
Growing up in Tennessee you probably had a cowboy hat or two, but obviously grew out of them as you got older. When you go downtown and walk the streets with friends and family, tourists are not hard to find! Every person with cowboy boots and a cowboy hat is more than likely from another city. I mean come on... You probably only know a handful of people who voluntarily wear cowboy hats and cowboy boots in downtown Nashville.
2. Seeing the Tri-Star sticker on the back of every single vehicle.
Driving down the road, you could probably look out of your window and see nine out of ten cars with some form of the Tennessee Tri-Star on the back. And odds are... You probably have one on the back of your car too. Of course that only shows that we have the most pride, and we know how to unite.
3. Dollywood is the Disney of the Smokey Mountains.
Who in Tennessee hasn't been to Dollywood? Are those crickets I hear? EXACTLY! Dolly Parton has created a place where we can go have the time of our lives, get sun burns, puke a million times and not spend half of our life savings on two hours in the worst park at Disney World. Oh, and it's in the mountains. It's the second best place to be other than the beach. Well, that's what us southerners think!
4. Unpredictable weather has taken over your wardrobe and your mentality.
With the erratic weather here, no one knows whether it is going to snow one day, rain the next and then the day after the high might be 85. You have to have an array of clothing types to cater to whatever biome Tennessee decides to be that day. You have to have back up plans for your back up plans just in case the weather decides to throw some snow at you one minute then change to a tropical storm in under half an hour. And then you have to have every kind of hair product in all of the US of A, girls, for the humidity in the summer. You can walk out of your house and feel the thickness sticking to your body. But who are we kidding, schools get cancelled because of flurries, so who is the real winner here?
5. The slang is so original. No one can beat us.
Last but not least... You know you are a Tennessean if you know that this whole state needs a dictionary of it's own. Let's have a lesson:
- Coke is any kind of carbonated beverage.
Ex: "Could I have a coke?" "What kind?" "A Dr. Pepper"
- A shopping cart doesn't exist.They are buggies.
- How's yermomandem... How is your mom and them? (If you don't know... don't ask)
- Sunday dinner is at noon. Supper is at night.
- Nashville, Shelbyville, and any other ville automatically become Nash-Vull and Shelby-Vull...
Welcome to the south, we are one big happy family.
