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Saturday, July 3, 2010

Are Southerners REALLY the Nicest People?

I ask you the age old question, Are Southerners Really As Nice As You've Heard They Are?
You have heard this, haven't you? If not, where have you been? Do you live under a rock...
Now see, THAT comment wasn't very nice, but I'm not originally from the South. I'm from Texas, and although Texans are the friendliest people on the planet they're much more mouthy.

Putting all that aside,
I've come to a conclusion. The answer is yes. Southerner's Are  Nice. Beyond Nice, they're super duper fantastically kind, big hearted and sweet.

1.
Take my neighbor, Carl, for example. He's the owner of Franklin, the cat. I think it's crazy nice of him to feed the cat, flea/tick proof the cat, change the cat's litter box, and watch the cat while we're on vacation, because other than those activities,  Franklin lives here with us. Hint: Make the neighbor's animals your very own pets. They do the work, you have the fun. Win/Win seet-chew-ay-shun.

2.
The local waitress. She's offered me her kidney if and when I ever need one. I don't need it yet, but it's nice to know she is THERE if I do. Not really. BUT,she did offer me a big glass of sweet tea and gave it to me for FREE. Now that's just plain nice.

3.
Fairhope Paint and Body. Fixed  the hood on my car, and gave me touch up paint...and didn't charge me a penny to do it. THAT IS SO NICE!

4.
Everybody I've met in this town... and I do mean everybody. Fortunately, I haven't met the 'jerky' couple Emily waited on last night at the Fly Creek cafe. They're probably out-of-towners...or alcoholics. Therefore their jerkiness can't be held against them.

Yes, folks, life is slower, kinder, and sweeter down here in Lower Alabama. And it should be. The air is beyond  hot and humid-if a bunch of cranky, selfish people lived here murder and  mayhem would break loose faster than you can say "outside is ten degrees hotter than hell" or  "Well, don’t you look prettier than a glob of butter melting on a stack of wheat cakes."

 P.S. NIE-US. It's a two syllable word...or three if you say it just right and let it hang for a second more.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL! I looked at the end line and said outloud "Knee-us? What the heck is that?" Then it dawned on me. Duh.

Well, being born and raised Texan, I can say southern people are nice, but then again, they can be the most judgmental folks around, unless someone weirder than you (not specifically YOU) comes around to distract. Small towns are nice until people find out you have rather elephantine trumpeting happening every morning in your bathroom at 6:47. Or what color underwear you wear since they were blowing in the breeze for all to see. And since you have some holes in those undies, I thought I'd tell you about the sale down at the Dollar General on Fruit of the Looms. I'll check if they have your size when I head over this afternoon.... That kind of thing.

Cheeseboy said...

Alabama sounds swell. Are you sure you don't Andy and Barney patrolling the streets.

Lisa said...

I have a sister in the South and I've gotta say, if she can't live in my neighborhood, at least she lives amongst kindly Southerners. They're a classy breed, them folks. Glad you're amongst them, too.

Alex@LateEnough said...

I'm pretty sure they're just nosy. But I've got that Yankee chip on my shoulder ;)

Kate said...

Only a true Texan would know we ain't southern. I was raised In Texas, but my folks are from the east. I know. Yankees. Its not so much that northerners are less nice as they are quieter and keep to themselves. But I sure did miss people holding open doors for the next person when I lived in Chicago. And there is nothing a little eye contact and smile don't make better. Really.