Monday, April 6, 2009

The Road Leads Back To You...

When I was growing up we'd spend holidays and summers visiting our family in Mississippi, where both my parents were born and raised. Mama and Dad would call it, "Going home for Christmas," or, "We're going home for a few weeks in June." My brother and I would always argue, "But it's not your home anymore--you live in Georgia!"

Now that I'm in my thirties (ahem!), I refer to Georgia as my home. As in, I am currently home. Right this very minute. In Georgia...also known as God's country...where my roots are planted...where all roads lead.

Yes, I feel that strongly about my state of origin.

While home this week, I will celebrate the motto by which I've lived for thirtysomething years:
American by birth, Georgian by the grace of God. Amen.

I will also celebrate:

*Blooming dogwoods, azaleas and wisteria.

*Sweet Tea. Real sweet tea. (And this from a gal who trained herself to drink and love unsweet tea...for the sake of my body.)

*Speaking southernese: "Fixin' to," "Bless your heart," and "How's your Mama?"

*Eating vegetables for supper--mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas, okra, tomatoes, & cornbread!

*Georgia Public Television--I love watching agriculture programs. Have you seen peanuts, peaches, and pecans being harvested? It's good programming.

*Visiting with old friends. And having my mother ask, "Who are you talking to?" and "Where are you going?" As if I'm still 16. Bless her heart.

*Watching reruns of the greatest sitcom ever, which just so happens to have been a show about four southern women, living in Atlanta, talking about topics such as this:


Funniest Suzanne Sugarbaker moment in the history of the world.

Georgia is not only on my mind, its red clay is also underfoot. I am home. Yaaaay!!!!!

33 comments:

Kristina P. said...

Have a great time in Georgia, ya'll!

Ker said...

Check it out Lula - the 1st season of Designing Women is being released on May 26th :)

http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Women-Complete-First-Season/dp/B001O4KBNM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1238994512&sr=8-1

Get your pre-order in :)

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

The Northern part of Florida is so much like Georgia. I can identify with all of those except the public television!

Jenny and the Princess Peonies said...

I hope you have a great time! I fear I will never be able to go "home" again. Enjoy every minute of it!!

Rhea said...

Awww! Enjoy being home!

Lauren W said...

I know what you mean :) No matter where I am, I'm a Texas girl through and through! Enjoy your time at home :)

SunshineBarlowe.com said...

Hope you guys have a great time together..
Call me when you get back..

:)

brainella said...

And just to make you feel at home -- the pollen has turned everything a fabulous shade of yellow green, and we're going to have a cold snap the next two days. I love GA in the spring. :-)

Amy said...

Enjoy yourself girly!! :)

Julie said...

i thought that only Texans were that proud of their state... ha ha. Have a great time!

sassy stephanie said...

Yay you! Have a great time!

Angie's Spot said...

Designing Women: Best.Show.Ever. I miss it, truly.

I'm dreaming of some fabulous BBQ that is better shared with friends! :-)

Letters to Twilight said...

when i move to california i will know what it feels like to 'come home' for now.. i want to die that i live 'at home'

can i come visit? i want: mashed potatoes, sweet tea, cornbread now... at the same time... plus shrimp...

and i'll watch the movie w/ you.. you know i will. true friends

Letters to Twilight said...

crap.. didn't mean to post as that. whatever... it's me "UC" blah

jori-o said...

I have never been down South and I SO want to visit (or maybe live there--though I'd be a Yankee, yes?)! Everyone I meet from the South, I love. When I was teching, the kids I liked best were the ones who were recent transplants from a southern state becaue they did the whole "yes ma'am," "no ma'am" thing. And if they were ever any trouble, the mere suggestion of calling home and talking to mom or dad (or grandma!!) would nearly bring them to their knees, begging forgiveness. Y'all apparently teach nmanners and respect down there!

Elena said...

You sound just like my mom talking about Texas. I so need to hear you speak in person so I can love that accent for a few minutes! Have a great time while you're home!!

CaraBee said...

I feel the same way about "going home." There's just nothing like that feeling of driving into your hometown when you've been away a while. Okay, now I want to go visit my family.

Have a great trip!

Jen said...

Oh man I love that show it was great. And I must admit that I secretly wish that I was a Souther girl. I hope that you have a great visit at home.

ParentingPink said...

Hope you enjoy Georgia! I am a BIG okra fan too...yum!

Heather said...

You know I was thinking of you when I passed that Georgia exit on our way home from Disney.

I know I'm a Yankee by birth, but I am so glad to have a true southern belle as my friend. I especially love to listen to those girls of yours with their adorable southern drawl...I could sit and have Libbey read to me all day.

My mom and I loved that show! I haven't seen it in years.

Have fun on your visit. Only one more month 'til you venture up north and see how the other side lives...

Live.Love.Eat said...

Oh, I wish that clip was longer. I loved that show when it aired. Have a wonderful week ya hear! Love the term Southernese!

Ashley said...

Oh - my - gosh. I LOVE Designing Women. Too good!

Unknown said...

I love designing women!!

came to your blog from SITS :) hope your day is wonderful!!

Shannon said...

Oh, Designing Women. How I miss that show. That was some darn good television right there!

Heather said...

The food, the t.v., the green-ness of Spring. It's how I feel when I go back to Louisiana and eat crawfish on a table covered with newspaper and Zydeco music in the background. It heals the soul.

Tiffany said...

I love it when you write about Georgia.

I love it when you leave me some Designing Women.

I love it when we go on cruises.

Beth said...

Designing Women has to be one of my ALL TIME favorite shows...EVER. I never get sick of seeing it. And I am from SOUTHERN California. :P

*snort*

Have a wonderful time in Georgia!

xoxo

Amy said...

Have the best time. Now I need to go search the tv guide and find some DW reruns. I love that show.

Marrdy said...

Have a fun trip!! Makes me wish I was from Georgia too.

Brandy said...

That is the best show! I can still watch the reruns and crack up at them!

Anonymous said...

i will always call it "home" anyplace with my parents or where i grew up will be home.

ps i think we may have been separated at birth/by a few yrs. you're speaking to my southernese roots.

Ash said...

I was born in Philly, and have been under house arrest in Texas for over 20 years - but Georgia will always be my home (from '75 - '87).

Enjoy all the sites and sounds of Spring for me. The only reason why I watch the Masters every year ;-)

Travel safely! Em

Mama Dawg said...

Substitute Mississippi for Georgia and you just described where I live!

I heart you, Lula.