Have you ever been out of town traveling or visiting family
when at some point you realize you feel like a foreigner speaking another
language? I’m telling you, it even
happens when I go to Atlanta now for the Gift Mart. So many folks from the north have moved to
Atlanta that you don’t really even hear the thick, elegant,
marbles-in-the-mouth, slow speak like we used to. Honey, they don’t even understand me at the
Mart. In fact, people come by my booth and
tell me to just talk so they can hear my Southern accent. I should charge for it really, but I
don’t. I love people but it is kind of crazy that they want me to
just T-A-L-K!
Anyway, I was with my kids, husband, mom and sister on
vacation a few weeks ago (diving for scallops, but that’s another story) and we
started laughing about the things we Southerners say that no one else would
understand. We even tried to remember
what these sayings really mean and we have no clue. So, just for fun, I thought I’d share some of
these with you.
For cryin’ out loud
(We use that one when we are surprised but a little agitated.)
Well, I’ll be. (Says: I’m not sure really what to think of that, but
I’m buying time if I say this drawn out over several seconds so I can collect
my thoughts)
All kit and caboodle. (Everything)
Lord willing and the creek don’t rise (A final word on pending
travel, event, health or making it through extreme weather. Usually said softly with the
head turned down as in prayer.)
I’m fixin’ to. (I’m
about to. . .)
Bless your heart. (This
can be delivered in two ways: as a sweet supportive comment, or just plain
pity... usually pity)
Gimme some sugar. (A
kiss.)
Madder than a wet hen!
(Really angry. Hens don’t like to
get wet.)
What in Tarnation!? (As
a little girl, I always wondered if ‘tarnation’ was a place. I have nothing to explain this one, but it’s
used with huge surprise and near disgust.
As kids, our parents used it when they found something we’d done, like fillin' the sugar bowl with salt (as a silly prank).
Come to think of it, I think part of the reason we never
really heard curse words growing up and the south is perceived as being more
gentile and mannerly is because we had our southern sayings to use in place of
bad words. It takes a whole lot longer
to say, ‘for cryin’ out loud’, than ‘crap.’ “What
in hells bells" is much nicer than "what
the hell” or worse, and "I’m madder
than a wet hen!” is much nicer to hear than, “I’m pissed off.”
Besides, it’s kind of fun to have our own way of expressing
our emotions and thoughts. What am I
thinking now? Well, for cryin’ out
loud, I can’t tell you that. If I did
you’d probably have a conniption and fall cattywampus right out the door – all
kit and caboodle.
Sending you some sugar. Lord willing and the creek don’t rise,
Lauri Jo.
P.S. Feel free to comment with some of your own Southern sayings... I love 'em!
