Would Virginia Really Qualify As The "Deep South"?

I named my Blog "Deep South Sass"-- if you didn't already know what you're reading, now you do! (so subscribe!)
I already explained the Sass part…
But what about the "Deep South"?

Geographically, Virginia is not located in the deep south… we're more like the Upper South, or Middle East Coast...
Exhibit A:

But… when you LIVE in the South the meaning of "Deep South" has nothing to do with Geography.

Its more of a way of life.

To live in the "Deep South" means:

"Where things most often thought of as 'Southern' exist in their most concentrated form." -Wikipedia (credible, I know)

 So… I guess I should identify what things are affiliated with being "Southern".
Ok. No Problem.
(Google. Google. Goooogle. Eugooglizer… haha Zoolander!)

Getting back on track...
According to a Daily Courier article "What makes us Southern", the answer is:

Dialect: We have all heard a Southern Accent. But… there is Southern and then there is Suuutherrrnnnn. It ranges from a cute little twang... to downright unrecognizable English.

Southern Slang Dictionary:

(for real life examples check out this video... and this one )

Monogram- Your initials put on EVERYTHING so you can tell you and 

your roommates clothes apart.

Y'all- A large or small group of people. Or just vague generalization.

Shiiiiiit- The Southern version of a 4-letter expletive --- 

the longer the "i" lasts the more severe the situation.

"Let me tell you something..."- I am about to tell you why you're wrong and I'm right. 

Don't argue. Just shut up and listen.

Puddin'- A term of endearment. Sometimes in a sarcastic manner. 

(See also: goober, sugar, sweetie pie, honeybunch, buttercup. etc.)

Food: Must love Sweet Tea. Fried Chicken. Fried anything, really. Hush Puppies. and apparently Grits. (although the last is debatable)

Hunting & Fishing: Anything that gives men any excuse to carry a gun and dress in camo.

Large Family Gatherings: While not everyone is The Brady Bunch… there is definitely a closeness that comes with a Southern family. (cue West Virginia incest jokes...) NOT WHAT I MEANT!
It feels like "Southern Style" families make more time for each other.

Hospitality: I have seen the less than hospitable side of the South but I guarantee every Southerner thinks they are the "sweetest" person they know. They tend to be a little ignorant to any "less than friendly" acts they perpetrate.
As if saying "Bless Her Heart" makes your snotty remark acceptable. And warning: Nothing nice comes after "No Offense, but..."... They pretty much just told you what comes next is going to offend you.

Traditions: Can't argue with this one. From weddings to holidays, the south is full of traditions. Heaven forbid we celebrate Christmas without a boatload of my late Grandmother's famous Twist Rolls.

Manners: We may curse your ass out… but at the end, when we are done, you are sure as hell gonna hear a "Thank You". Our manners follow us to the end of the earth.

I had a professor in college who refused to EVER walk in the door before a woman-- he insisted on holding the door for you. I actually think he would hold it all day if you made him (but no one would do that… the man is the spitting image of Santa Claus dressed in a Seersucker suit straight off the professor from The Water Boy) 

 And don't you dare forget to send a Thank You Note... in my family that was a real quick way to get on the list of ungrateful little shits who get written out of the will.

In the end...

"Simply put, we value tradition, manners and our families.
The South — wherever it may be — is a place of good living, pleasant people, abundant dinners and beautiful drives. Southern life is about family, friends and making the most out of life no matter how humble it may be."  -ALYSSA MULLIGER 

With Love, 
J. 

What it really means to be Southern

I can't even tell you how many times someone has told me to start a blog.
Generally, I just pass it off as a polite way of getting me to shut up and go away but apparently... I was wrong. (Despite what I tell my husband... this HAS happened before)

For years I toyed with the idea of writing a blog. 

I mean... I tend to find my thoughts and interests fascinating and others seem to find me humorous—is there a better combo when it comes to a Blogger? I think not! -- Except for the fact that I am INFAMOUS for starting things that I never finish. Hence my short lived violin career, the time I tried to work at Victoria’s Secret, and that week that I swore I was going to teach myself to love running. Okay, it was 3 days – but at least I thought about it. I’m convinced that in the end the thought will actually help. Like, just because running crossed my mind back in 2012 it means I am less likely to die from some “poor-health” related affliction.

Oh, and did I mention I get off topic easily?

**And as a forewarning of those of you testing my Blogging chops by test reading this little entry—it took me three tries to write that paragraph without the F word. I like to curse. It happens. I will try to control it as best I can but sometimes there just is no substitute for a well place 4-letter expletive. And no one said this thing had to be family friendly, right?

(getting myself back on track... shiny objects... music playing.. "Do you wanna build a snowman?"... Focus! Focus, Joanna!!)

Now that my life (and my career) have taken yet another turn -- I thought "What's stopping you, Joanna?" (and yes, I speak to myself in the 3rd person. I find it motivating and somewhat soothing)
So. Here we go.
Let's start with something simple... a little something about Me! (My husband will likely disagree with me classifying myself as "simple" -- but I really don't think I'm that complicated.)
And an insight into why I chose to name this blog "Down South Sass"

My name is Joanna-- as most, if not all of you know.
I grew up in Southwest Virginia. (I won't give details just in case one of you is a psycho stalker.)
I learned everything there. How to ride a bike. How to break the rules. How to break the rules and not get caught. How to get out of trouble when you get caught breaking the rules.
Lets just say I had a well educated upbringing.

But the most important thing I learned there is the true meaning of being "Southern"
It is not just about the "ma'am" and the "y'all"-- and forget about the cowboy boots and 10-gallon hats. If someone owns one of those and DOESN'T live on a farm or ranch... then they just want to APPEAR Southern. I'm not hating. I own some CUTE ASS cowgirl boots but I don't pretend that those make me Southern.
Being Southern means you're real.
Real Sassy.
Real Bitchy.
Real Classy.
Real Drunk....
but always real.
People may not like it or agree with it. But... Who Cares?
What you see (in my case, what you hear) is what you get!

Don't get me wrong-- being Southern does NOT give you an excuse to be rude or hateful.
(Although, I have been called both)
It's still involves having manners and saying "Please" "Thank You" and "Bless Your Heart"-- but it has nothing to do with where you grew up, the number of Alabama Football games you've been to, or whether or not your great-great-grandfather fought for the South in the Civil War. (Newsflash! They lost! Its nothing to brag about!)

The whole point of this rant (and eventual History lesson) is that everyone can learn a little bit from us Southerners.
Why would you want to live your life being anything other than real?
Don't live each day to please other people or make other people happy. It is YOUR life! And at the end of it, you can either look back and smile at the fact that you lived it fully and made yourself happy... OR you can have regrets.
"I wish I had told him/her how I feel!"
"I wish I had gone to (fill in the blank) when I had the chance!"
Should've. Could've. Would've.
Believe me. That's not how I plan to look back on my life and you shouldn't either.
So be Real. Whatever that means to you. It is your choice and your life.

With Love, 
J.

Stay Tuned:
For more of my thoughts, ideas and general life lessons.
Shoot me some comments if you have any ideas or want me to comment on something in particular. I'm easily persuaded.