Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
Hey everyone! It's time for a porch break. Do you remember how
good the recess bell sounded when you were in grade school? I
do. My goal is to give you that same feeling when "All Things
Southern" arrives in your inbox. Ambitious? Yeah. Impossible?
Maybe, but maybe not--the jury's still out. ~smile~ There's a
saying in the South when someone strays from the subject at
hand. We call it "chasing a rabbit." Just so you know, I'm
fixin' to jump one.
If you haven't been watching the Olympics, shame on ya'.
I, for one, will be sad when they're gone. (Kinda like when
the bell sounded to go BACK to class.) The characters of many
of these athletes have been as impressive as their abilities.
The other night I was watching short-track racing. Just as the
leader was about to win gold, another guy tripped him up and
sent him flying into the side of the track, cutting his
thigh in the process. I felt so sorry for the poor fellow that
I stayed up late to see him interviewed. Guess what? He was
FINE! He said he was pleased with his race, that he'd done
everything that was within his power to control. "These things
happen," he said. Mr. Apollo, (you've got to love that name), was
obviously satisfied to know in his heart that he'd been the
fastest in the world--even though he had to settle for silver
after struggling across the finish line!
And what about the scoring controversy in pairs figure skating
that gave the gold to the Russians instead of the Canadians
many of the experts contended had earned it? During the ensuing
mayhem the disappointed young Olympians took the high road. By
the time it was decided to have co-gold medal winners, complete
with a second awards ceremony, the class of this Canadian pair
had become as much of a story as the controversy itself.
Never mind the professional athletes--with their million dollar
spending sprees, drug habits and ear-biting fiascoes--these
amateurs have put a fresh coat of paint on one of my favorite
soap boxes: sports can teach invaluable life lessons, produce
strong characters and keep your kids out of trouble at the same
time. Okay, okay, I'll take a breath and get back to our real
subject--celebrating all things southern!
Hugs,
Shellie
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"Chuckles"
The great Minnie Pearl used to tell this one:
"Cruel and Unusual Punishment?"
There was a little boy who was acting up something horrible.
His mother warned him if he didn't stop, she was gonna have
to give him a whippin'! Well, he kept on misbehaving until
his mom finally said, "That's it!" and she proceeded to give
him the spanking of his life. The little boy went crying all
the way upstairs, ran into his mom's bedroom, stood in front
of her full-length mirror and dropped his britches. After
taking one look he went," Hmph!"
Then he marched straight back downstairs and to his mom and
announced, "Boy, I sure hope you're happy! You cracked it!"
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"A Taste of the South"
Don't be fooled. The promise of spring might be in the
air, but it's just teasing. There's plenty of cold nights left
to enjoy a belly-warming bowl of soup.
"Ann Brock's Taco Soup"
• 1 Can Red Kidney Beans
• 2 Cans Pinto Beans
• 1 Can Whole Kernel Corn
• 1 Can Diced Ro-Tel Tomatoes w/Peppers
• 1 Can Stewed "Mexican Recipe" Tomatoes
• 1-2 Pounds Ground Chuck or Vinson
• 1 Pkg. Dry Taco Seasoning
• 1 Pkg. Dry Ranch Valley Seasoning
Add seasonings and one cup of water to browned and drained
meat. Add all cans with their juices and bring to a boil.
Simmer at least thirty minutes. Add water to desired soup
consistency. ( I usually rinse out the bean cans and pour
the water into the pot. I get all the goodie from the beans
and cut down on smelly garbage at the same time.)
Serve with cornbread, crackers or Frito chips. Top with
grated cheese and enjoy.
Thanks Mrs. Ann! ~Shellie
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"Spotlight on the South"
SPOTLIGHT ON THE LATE MINNIE PEARL
Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon
comedienne, singer
Birthplace: Centerville, Tenn.
Born: 1912
Died: 1996
She was born Sarah Ophelia Colley on the 25th of October, 1912
in Centerville, Tennessee. Like millions of television viewers,
I knew her only as Minnie Pearl, one of the Grand Old Opry's
brightest stars.
Every Saturday night Minnie Pearl exploded onto the stage in
her simple cotton dress and straw hat calling out her signature
greeting,"How-dee,I'm just so proud to be here!" As a child all
I saw in Minnie Pearl was an unbelievably corny comedian who
often sang off-key. I didn't "get" it. As an adult I can now
truly appreciate the genius and warmth of her gift that inspired
legions of fans without the crutches of profanity, vulgarity,
racism or blasphemy.
A whole generation became familiar with Minnie Pearl's tales
from the community of Grinder's Switch, (an actual small railway
switching point near Centerville, Tennesse), but few know the
surprising story of the birth of Sarah Colley's alter ego.
It's not your typical rags-to-riches country music star account.
The daughter of a prominent businessman, Sarah Colley developed
an interest in the stage as a small child. After graduating
from high school, she attended Nashville's Ward-Belmont College,
a fashionable finishing school for young ladies and acquired a
degree in speech and drama. In 1936, after meeting what was
later described as "an amusing old mountain woman" when touring
with a small theater company in Alabama, Sarah began to develop
her alter ego. Minnie Pearl, the lovable character created by
Sarah Cannon, was everybody's cousin; she was simple and sincere,
precocious and profound, hilarious and humble. Colley worked hard
over the next few years, gradually building her "act". It was not
until November 1940 that she first auditioned for the Grand Ole
Opry. Although the show's management doubted she would be accepted
as a country character because of her known upper-class education,
she was permitted to appear on the late evening show. The audience
that evening was amused with Minnie Pearl, dressed in her cheap
frilly cotton dress and wearing a wide-brimmed hat with the price
label still attached. She soon became a Grand Ole Opry legend and
would go on to provide her fans with fifty years of good clean
fun, Sarah Collery, succumbed to cancer on the 4th of March 1996.
Her inimitable legacy lives on in the hearts of those who place the
highest value on a good, clean laugh.
I've just finished reading "The Best Jokes Minnie Pearl Ever Told"
by Kevin Kenworthy. Some are downright hilarious and some would
be better appreciated with the famous delivery of the great
comedian, but all will leave you with a grin or a chuckle.
Click here to buy "The Best Jokes That Minnie Pearl Ever Told"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1558537341/qid=1014058729/sr=8-1/allthingssout-20
~Shellie
*************************************************************
"It's Been Said..."
"When people from the South ask that question they don't
necessarily mean geography. They may mean family, neighborhood
or time."
--Beverly Lowrey, on the question "Where are you from?"
**************************************************************
Visit http://www.allthingssouthern.com/books.html for a FREE
chapter of my memoir, "LESSONS LEARNED ON BULL RUN ROAD".
(You can order online using your credit card--or you can snailmail,
email or fax the printable order form.) Don't forget to browse
the rest of the store!
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"Southern Comfort"
"Beneath His Wings"
I have one child in college and one still in high school.
When they're hurt or sad I have flashbacks to their "little
kid" faces. I want to comfort them and chase their troubles
away. Fortunately for me, we have a good relationship and
they generally let me help, (or at least they let me think
I'm helping anyway). I can't imagine how I'd feel if they
shut me out.
Allow me to show you a scripture in Matthew 23:37. Jesus is
speaking and His words really grab me. "Oh Jerusalem, Oh
Jerusalem...how often I would have gathered you as a hen
gathers her chickens under her wings--but you were not
willing." Please indulge me here and reread that scripture
with your name in the place of Jerusalem. Did you do it?
Wow! How about that? God wants to hold you close and kiss
your skinned knees and bruised elbows. I hope you're not
shutting Him out. :-)
~Shellie
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"Southern Exchange"
Dear Shellie,
The letter in the issue about chopping cotton brought back
some memories I have of growing up in Rowden, Texas....
After a disappointing cotton crop the previous year in which
a lot of the seeds didn't make it up, Daddy opened up the seed
hopper to where it put out about twice as many seeds. I think
every blasted one of them came up. The only rest we had in the
whole 10 acres of cotton was 5 or six ant hills. I learned
then to love the little creatures.:-)
Don Phillips
Mt. Pleasant, NC
----------
Oh, Shellie!
You are truly a woman after my own heart. I love your emag and
look forward to it every week. Us ol' Southern Gals must stick
together. Here-2-4 my fav part of your emag has been the Southern
Jokes and quotes. I enjoy them always, but the Girly-girl stuff
is quite the most. So, here goes my girly-girl story: I was
raised by a bible bred Southern grandfather who I think truly
wanted his first-born grandchild to be a boy, but instead he
got yours truly. He tried his best to make a boy of me. One
of my favorite expeditions with him was to ride on the tailgate
of the truck down dirt roads. My job: to jump off each time
the truck stopped and shake the Catawba worm tree and pick up
the profit. What a job for a five-year-old! What a way of
life! Does this qualify me as a non-girly girl (I didn't wear
shoes at the time, I swear) . You be the judge. And please
let me know....
Your southernly sister,
Brenda
Statesboro, Georgia
-----------
Dear Shellie,
I enjoy your e-mag so much. A few weeks ago I borrowed the
piece on "Visiting Day" from your "Southern Comfort" and my
husband slipped it into our church's weekly announcements to
have it read to our congregation. Because we are
Sabbath-keepers, there was a minor adjustment made by inserting
Saturday in place of Sunday, but the message was still the same.
For me personally, it has served as a reminder that every day
we need to take time out for our Heavenly Father and His Son.
I'm sure They appreciate hearing from us at times other than
a crisis.
Thanks so much for the time and effort you put into this e-mag.
As word gets around I'm sure more and more people will come to
enjoy the topics you bring to our attention. I'm including
a puzzle for you to share with your readers if you'd like.
Sincerely,
Wanda Rogers
Conyers, GA.
BIBLE PUZZLE
Adam, God made out of dust, but thought it best to make me first.
So I was made before man, to answer God's most Holy plan.
A living thing I became, and Adam gave to me a name.
I from his presence then withdrew, and more of Adam I never knew.
I did my Maker's law obey, nor ever went from it astray.
Thousands of miles I go each year, though seldom on earth do appear.
For purpose wise which God did see, He put a living soul in me.
A soul from me God did claim, and took the soul from me again.
So when the soul from me had fled, without hands, feet or that soul,
I travel on from pole to pole.
I labor hard by day and night, to fallen man I give great light.
Thousands of people young and old, will by my death great light behold.
No right or wrong I can conceive, the scripture I cannot believe.
Although my name therein is found, they are to me an empty sound.
No fear of death doth trouble me, real happiness I will never see.
To heaven I shall never go, or to hell far below.
Now when these lines you slowly read, go search your Bible with
all speed.
For that my name is written there, I honestly to you declare.
(Okay readers, this is Shellie speaking, if you're stumped you
can find the answer to Wanda's riddle by scrolling to the end
of the "Southern Exchange" at http://www.allthingssouthern.com)
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"A Southern Definition"
"If you have ever voluntarily worn a dress to school...you could
have been a girly-girl."
--Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
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WHAT SOUTHERN MOMS TELL THEIR DAUGHTERS...
About beauty: "Pretty is as pretty does!" Do you remember your
southern mom's advice about love,marriage, relationships and
life in general? Then join the fun; this project is exploding!
Write me at tomtom@allthingssouthern.com to have your mom's
advice memorialized in my new book: WHAT SOUTHERN MOMS TELL
THEIR DAUGHTERS...
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