My last post addressed the language of the South and the manner of speaking that is uniquely our own.  The South is known for more than its linguistic distinctions; we have our own distinct culture, with different customs, accents, fashion, architecture, musical styles, and cuisines.  So, I thought I might muse upon some of the things I cherish as a son of the Southland.  

Southerners are known for their politeness and hospitality — always quick to offer a warm smile. When relocating to the South, don’t be surprised to discover people using “ma’am” and “sir” as a sign of respect when addressing you.

Live in the South long enough and you will probably be assigned a pet name.  “Bubba” is a term of endearment in the Southland. I had an aunt nicknamed Sugarbee, an uncle Bussie, a grandmother affectionately called Dado, and my dad, whom my cousins all called Uncle June.  June was short for Junebug — a nickname given to him by his two older brothers when, at the age of five, he was said to be as quick as a junebug.

It is probably not a coincidence that Southern hospitality grew out of an area often referred to as the Bible Belt. There are a lot of good Samaritans in the Southland and churches of various denominations seemingly everywhere. Every town has a First Baptist and a First Methodist Church.  Rarely do you ever see one labeled Second Baptist. If you can’t be First, you might as well sound biblical —  Mt. Moriah Baptist, Redeemer Presbyterian, St. Matthew Lutheran, or Shiloh Methodist, though our non-denominational brethren seek to sound more intriguing with names like Mosaic, Journey, In Focus, and Sanctuary.  But in case you wonder what the church offers, you always have those houses of worship that clearly state their mission in their name, such as Church of Deliverance Tabernacle of Prayer.  The South has more denominations and churches than Baskin Robbins has flavors of ice cream.

The South has its share of sins, too; racism being its most disgraceful one. Fortunately, there are positive values that have allowed the Southland to evolve into a more diverse and respectful place today. Devotion to family, humility, courtesy, good manners, respect towards womanhood, and integrity come quickly to mind.

As I reflect on what I treasure as a son of the South, my list grows faster than kudzu. In no particular order, here are a few of the things I like about it down here.

1. Elvis
2. Dolly 
3. Herschel
4. Shrimp and grits
5. Gas station fried chicken
6. Funeral procession pull-overs
7. College football rivalries and tailgating
8. Charleston, SC
9. The Masters Golf Tournament
10. . Yes sir and No sir, Yes ma’am and No ma’am
11. Biscuits and jam or biscuits and gravy
12. Johnny Cash
13. Barbecue
14. Southern nicknames
15. Southern hospitality 
16. The Southern drawl
17. Neighbors who wave at you when you drive by
18. Front porch swings and rocking chairs
19. Sweet tea
20. Waffle Houses
21. Churches everywhere and church potluck dinners
22. Low country boil
23. Hushpuppies & fried catfish (aka the other white meat)
24. Peach cobbler
25. Rich history, including the good and bad (because we learned from it)
26. Improved race relations over the past 60 years
27. Hard work ethic
28. Chick-fil-A
29. Bow ties
30. Atlanta Braves
31. Lewis Grizzard
32. Fried okra
33. See Rock City
34. Honeysuckle blossoms
35. Real Mayonnaise like Blue Plate or Duke’s
36. The Varsity and their Fried Apple Pies
37. Being able to play golf in January (and sometimes even wear shorts)
38. Cracker Barrell
39. Grand Ole Opry
40. Listening to Shelby Foote tell stories about the Civil War
41. Waitresses that call you Honey, Sugar, Pumpkin, and Sweetie Pie — are not referring to food.
42. Being a Gentleman is not considered misogynistic.
43. Cyclorama depicting the Battle of Atlanta
44. Brunswick stew
45. The Song of the cicadas at dusk.
46. Festoons of Spanish moss in old oak trees
47. Springtime tent revivals
48. Four seasons 
49. All festivals are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect, or animal.
50. Fixinto is one word

Of course, there are a few things we Southerners must tolerate to enjoy the bountiful benefits of Southern living.

Things I Don’t Like About the South

1. Summer humidity, but then you don’t have to pay for saunas
2. The Season of Yellow, aka yellow smoke, aka pine pollen
3. Mosquitos
4. Kudzu

But then, it is such a small price to pay for the privilege of living in the land of Peaches, Peanuts, Potlikker, Polite People, and good Preaching.

Did I miss anything?