Southern View

Memories of growing up in the South bring a feeling of comfort to me. While living in other parts of the country, I have come to realize that there are quite a few things about the South that make it unique. Where else can you find the type of hospitality that you receive in the South? People in the South always make you feel at home, they use terms like yes sir, no sir, yes mam, no mam, and use these type of terms in a polite manner, They talk to you, never Down to you, and will always tell you "Y'all come back now ya heah" and mean it, and at the same time if you act too confused you just may hear "You aint from around heah are ya boy"

Cooking a big meal for you is a task made to look easy by most Southerners. Southern Fried Chicken and Gravy, Fried Green Tomatoes, Fried Okra, Pinto Beans and Cornbread, Collard Greens, or even some Poke Salad, and a big ole glass of Sweet Tea is a good start to a wonderful meal you will never forget. And if it happens to be Breakfast you want Grits is a staple you just can't pass up. The way I enjoy Grits is mixed all up in my Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, and you just have to mix in a little Red Eye Gravy or Coffee Gravy and be sure to add the Salt and Pepper. Any Southerner knows that it just ain't right to add sugar into your grits, You don't want to mess up the flavor by mixing in something that just don't belong.

Finding something to do in the South is an easy thing to figure out. Just do what makes you happy, Simple as sitting back under the Magnolia tree, listening to the whippoorwills, the mourning doves, the tree frogs, and watching the Kudzu grow and trying to figure out a way you haven't already tried to stop it. Just what the heck is Kudzu anyway, well if you don’t know just be careful where you take a nap because it’ll creep up on you. Going out for a ride in the mountains for the simple reason that you want to pick some Muscadines because it's been a while since you had some, or setting up a Coon Hunt, not because you really want to bring home a Raccoon but because you just want to get together with a few friends and let the dogs run for a while.

Southerners are proud and honorable people, They will inform you (if you don't already know) that the War for Southern Independence (aka The Civil War) was fought over States Rights and not Slavery, The Confederate Flag is a symbol of Honor and Pride for most Southerners not Hate. Racism is something not tolerated by most but sadly people from all over America who are racist give us all a bad name. Southern Heritage is important and we are proud to discuss it with you, life is too short for hate so I don’t practice it myself.

As I said earlier The South brings me a true feeling of comfort. We believe in God, Family and Friends, Being polite to others whether you know them or not, Working hard to get the things you need or want, and Praying hard that your decisions are the right ones to help your kids grow up and live as they should. Gimme a RC Cola and a Moon Pie, A Shady spot under the Magnolias on a hot humid southern summer day, Give my kids the wisdom to appreciate what The Good Lord has given them, and help them to grow up happy. Give me a chance to teach them the truth about life and their heritage and also help them be proud of themselves and who they are going to become.

Be proud of yourself and where you are from, this country is very diverse and made up of a whole lot of people, I have lived in several areas and each has a lot of proud people and things that make each one unique in it’s own way, I lived in West Texas and learned life in the oilfields, cooking with mesquite gave my grill a taste that I truly loved, my oldest son was born there and in his heart is that strong Texas attitude that is equal to my Southern Pride, Eastern New Mexico I learned a different culture and came to love Mexican food and a few friends who are still there--you know who you are, jalapeno peppers are still a staple in my diet, my youngest son came to me here and also Cindy my wife a California girl I fell in love with, she shared with me a Daughter and two more Sons, she also brought me to Southern California where we are enjoying life within the Southern View of beautiful mountains that take me back home. You have to love the life the Good Lord gives you and appreciate the diversity that makes us all unique.