Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
Hello. Welcome back to the porch. Today's conversation is
about southern courtesy, good manners, call it what you
want--is it myth or reality? That's my question.
A note from a subscriber this past weekend got me to thinking.
You see, I was pulling for my LSU tigers this past Saturday,
and Bill, a new friend and subscriber from Tennessee, was
pulling for his Vols. Leading up to the big game we had a
great time via email exchanging threats and bets. And then
my Tigers went down--hard. Glumly, I sat down at my computer,
hat in hand, to compose my letter to Bill with the proper
amount of humility. Bill's response was immediate and
gracious, allowing me plenty room to wiggle and even reminisce
about past Tiger victories. Small thing? Sure. Southern thing?
Maybe and maybe not, you tell me.
In the South, manners or the lack of them, are a direct
reflection on parents; lectures on proper etiquette begin
early. "Thank you", "please", "yes ma'am--no ma'am", the lessons
start simple, becoming more involved as the child matures.
Elbows on the table? Heaven forbid! And even the youngest
Southern children know not to leave the table without a
courteous reference to the cook, however short and sweet
it might be: "Thanks, Mom. That was good." Over the years the themes
graduate to more serious crimes: Never, but never, allow two
guests to remain in the same room without introducing them.
Are these teachings unique to our geographical region? Are some
states more gracious than others? Write me and submit your
anecdotes of growing up under the rules of southern graciousness,
courtesy and manners. (Maybe we'll make it a state to state
competition.) I'll print a few next week. Until then--
Hugs,
Shellie
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"Chuckles"
Now, now before my wonderful cajun subscribers start flaming me,
please know this week's chuckle is all in fun. I promise to poke
some redneck fun soon. ~Shellie
"Cajun Air Lines"
Pierre and Boudreaux was flying to Mardi Gras. Boudreaux was
flying da plane, and Pierre was in da back when da plane started
bouncin around and knocked Boudreaux unconscious. Pierre got
worried when da plane started driftin, and come up to da front to
find Boudreaux sprawl out all over da steerin wheel.
Well, Pierre don't know nuttin bout flyin so he grab da microphone
and holla "May Day! May Day! Dis is Cajun Air Line 90210.
Boudreaux, him knock unconscious an I don know nuttin about flyin
dis plane!"
"Dis is da control tower," someone answer. "Don you worry 'bout
nuttin. We gonna splain you how to land dis plane, step by step.
Furst, how high you are, an whas you position?"
Pierre thought a minute, "I'm five foot ten an I'm all da way to
da front of dis plane."
No! No!" answer da tower. "What you altitude, an where you
location?"
Pierre say, "Man, rat now ah got a po attitude, an I'm from
Lawzeeanna!"
"No! No!" came the exasperated voice. "Ah needs to know how many
feet you got off da ground and you planes relation to da airport!"
Pierre, he really be panicking by dis time. He say firmly,
"Counting Boudreaux's feets an mine togedder, we got fo feet off
da groun! An I don believe dis plane be related to you airport!"
A long pause in da Control Tower--de silence was deafaning and
then the voice come back--
"We needs to know who be you next of kin.."
(Special thanks to Dude Halley for this week's chuckle!)
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"A Taste of the South"
Short on time and long on cravings? Coming pretty close to the
old fashioned start-from-scratch version, this one goes out to
you weary workers sitting at your computers wondering what you
can pull out of the hat for supper. One quick stop at the
supermarket and in less than an hour you'll be dining southern
style.
CRAWFISH ETOUFEE' FOR CHEATERS
•1 chopped green bell pepper
•1 chopped white onion
•1 stick butter
•2 lbs. Crawfish tail meat
•3 cans Cream of Celery soup
•1 can Rotel tomatoes
•salt/pepper
•Toney Chacheres' Seafood Seasoning
Rinse crawfish tail meat thoroughly and drain. Saute' onion and
pepper in butter. Combine with remaining ingredients and cook
over medium heat for forty-five minutes. Season well and serve
over rice.
************************************************************
"Spotlight on the South"
THE ROANOKE RIVER http://www.roanokeriver.com
"And I thought it was just a big mud hole!"
That’s what a surprised local resident said recently during a
tourism meeting. But a growing number of people from across
North Carolina are exploring this mud hole, which happens
also to be part of the largest intact bottomland hardwood
swamp forest east of the Mississippi. Some take canoe or
kayak day trips down the river or its creeks to enjoy the
wildlife and scenery. Others camp near the river or venture
into the swamp to spend a night or two on specially designed
platforms provided by Roanoke River Partners. Short trip or
long, the experience is like entering another world. Once you
do it, you will probably understand why people travel for
miles to get here and enjoy it.
The area is home to black bear, river otter, white-tail deer,
bobcat, beaver and mink. Over 200 bird species have been
identified including bald eagles, barred owl, osprey, and
anhinga. Coupled with the hundreds of great egrets and great
blue herons nesting in the region, it is a birdwatcher's
paradise. The River is renowned for its abundance of striped
bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, lunker catfish, gar and
bowfin. Just above the waterline, turtles sun on logs near the
banks.
For more info on the Roanoke River as well as beautiful pictures
of the scenery and wildlife surf to http://www.roanokeriver.com
**************************************************************
"It's Been Said..."
"Recognizing that it certainly isn't true of all of us, I would
propose that a Southerner is distinguished by a sense of
neighborliness, a garrulous quality, a wish to get together a
lot."
--from Charles Kuralt in "Southerners: Portrait of a People"
**************************************************************
"Southern Comfort"
The Bible talks a lot about encouraging one another.
I did a quick study and found twelve scriptures in the
New Testament alone. I'm sure there are many more. I think
I might know at least one reason.
I have a good friend that doesn't work "outside the home".
No, she doesn't sit on the couch and watch soap operas all day.
She's too busy being a good wife, mother, daughter, friend and
volunteer. Unfortunately, because she hasn't "done something
with her life" to use a tired old phrase, she often feels
like she is wasting the talents God has given her.
But does the Bible agree? In the first book of Timothy, Chapter
Five, we find Paul talking about widows with reputations of having
done good works--and then he lists exactly what those works are.
So, where does Paul start this A-List of women that mattered?
World missions? Wrong! Paul's list starts with those "who have
brought up children" and includes "those who relieved the
afflicted". Sound like anyone you know?
Hang in there guys, please don't hit the unsubscribe button; this
isn't just for my female readers. It's for anyone and everyone
who might be getting a little weary of doing the right thing--when
it doesn't seem like it matters in the long run. Galatians 6:9
says, "Do not be weary in well doing." I want to remind
you that there is Someone taking notes--the same One who knew a
long time ago that you would need some encouraging one day.
I'm afraid I'm getting long-winded here. So, I'll wrap this up
with a poem from a wise woman who was known on this earth as
Mother Teresa:
People are often unreasonable, illogical, self-centered;
~Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
~Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies;
~Succeed anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
~Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some will be jealous;
~Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
~Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
~Give your best anyway.
You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God;
~It was never between you and THEM anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Southern Exchange"
This exchange comes from a new subscriber whose letter
last week so touched me that I wanted to pass it along. I feel
sure your thoughts, like mine, are never far from the state
of affairs in our nation. Though we continue to go on as normal
as possible, it seems like America is holding her collective
breath. Meridith's letter brings the evening news a little
closer to our front doors.
"Even though I'm not from the south, I feel like my heart is. I
live on Long Island in New York....but I've been considering a
move further south--before the tragedy, which was 30 miles west
of me. I'd been wanting to get away from my home state, the
rushing...busyness...crowdedness...crime...noise...pollution.
Before this happened I would've added rudeness. Just give me a
couple acres, a house with a front porch and a swing in a semi
rural area.
I was fortunate not to have lost any one I know...but I see
my neighbor, a city fireman , come home for a few hrs...and then
go back to dig...and the look on his face is enough to break your
heart. And at night-- hearing the F14s go over twice a night--I
know they're there to protect us, but it's really frightening .
Plus, now that this has happened...it dawns on all of us here
on Long Island...only one way off--thru the city...not to sound self
centered but it's scary. There's a million people in each of
the two counties here." Meridth from Long Island
Thanks Meridith and God Bless You,
~Shellie
===========================================================
My memoir "LESSONS LEARNED ON BULL RUN ROAD"
will be available at http://www.allthingssouthern.com
in a few short weeks. Won't you visit and check out
the FREE sample chapter?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
WHAT SOUTHERN MOMS TELL THEIR DAUGHTERS...
About marriage: "You should marry for love and not for money.
But if you're gonna marry for money--make darn sure he's got
some!"
I need your southern mom's advice about love, marriage,
relationships and life in general. Write me at
tomtom@allthingssouthern.com to have your mom's advice
memorialized in my new book:
WHAT SOUTHERN MOMS TELL THEIR DAUGHTERS...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Please forward ALL THINGS SOUTHERN to your friends and family!
(You can also email them the parent site by going to
http://www.allthingssouthern.com and clicking on the link that
says "email this site to a friend.")
==========================================================
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