Tim and I decided to send out a fun little Christmas card this year poking fun at our new location. It reads "Let it Snow Where You Are...cause it doesn't snow down here!" Hope you all enjoyed it. Below is the letter that we sent with it:
Happy Holidays from the South!
I hope that this note finds “y’all” in good health and spirits this holiday season. Tim and I can hardly believe that we have survived our first year down in Charlotte, North Carolina! The year has flown by, and needless to say, we have learned many new things living in our new southern surroundings.
In the event that we have a few visitors or that we convert some of you to come live down in “these parts,” let us give you a northerner’s primer on all things “southern”:
1.) First off, the dialect: You must remember your basic grammar: "ya'll" is singular, "all ya'll" is plural, and "all ya'lls" is plural possessive. Mastering the use of “ya’ll” is key to claiming the south as your adopted home.
2.) Restaurant Etiquette: When ordering iced tea when dining out, you will need to specify whether you want sweet tea or unsweetened tea—if you do not specify otherwise, a southerner will assume you want sweet tea because in a southerner’s mind, sweet tea is the only kind of tea.
3.) Snow: Like our card indicated we rarely—if ever--get snow down here because our seasons mainly consist of almost summer, summer, still summer, and construction season. Beware of the south when there is the “threat” of snow. It requires the obligatory trip to the grocery store where you will sigh when you watch the natives clearing the shelves of all of the main staples: bread, milk, bottled water, pop tarts, beer, etc.
4.) Collegiate affiliation: Other than stock car racing, they do not care about any sports here other than college basketball. It is imperative as a new resident of the state that you immediately pledge your allegiance to either UNC or Duke. (If you need a hint, UNC = Good; Duke = Evil—it’s the Indiana equivalent to the Golden Domers).
5.) “Oh Bless Your Heart” vs. “I’m Just Saying”: When you hear a southerner whip out the phrase, “Oh Bless Your Heart” in reference to something that you just said, be warned that it may not be the nicest thing. “Oh Bless Your Heart” seems to be the passive southern equivalent to the north’s “”--immediately followed by the phrase, “I’m just saying,” in order to tone down the previously stated slight. Some southerners believe that “oh bless your heart” is part of their secret code language and that northerners haven’t caught on to it yet—so whip this phrase out early and often!
In all seriousness, life in the south has treated Tim and I well. I have just completed my first full season with NASCAR, and am enjoying the opportunities, friends, and experiences that I have been afforded through the organization. Tim is now a full-time student at UNC-Charlotte earning his Masters in Accounting—I know…I know…he is definitely part of the family! He will graduate next summer and will pursue his CPA license. Other than work and school, we have enjoyed many visitors over the last year. We have also enjoyed our proximity to the ocean, the mountains, and many fun southern cities. If you are in town, do not hesitate to stop in—we love visitors!
Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season! May “all y’all” have much prosperity in 2009!
Bless Your Hearts—I’m Just Saying!
Tim and Megan
I hope that this note finds “y’all” in good health and spirits this holiday season. Tim and I can hardly believe that we have survived our first year down in Charlotte, North Carolina! The year has flown by, and needless to say, we have learned many new things living in our new southern surroundings.
In the event that we have a few visitors or that we convert some of you to come live down in “these parts,” let us give you a northerner’s primer on all things “southern”:
1.) First off, the dialect: You must remember your basic grammar: "ya'll" is singular, "all ya'll" is plural, and "all ya'lls" is plural possessive. Mastering the use of “ya’ll” is key to claiming the south as your adopted home.
2.) Restaurant Etiquette: When ordering iced tea when dining out, you will need to specify whether you want sweet tea or unsweetened tea—if you do not specify otherwise, a southerner will assume you want sweet tea because in a southerner’s mind, sweet tea is the only kind of tea.
3.) Snow: Like our card indicated we rarely—if ever--get snow down here because our seasons mainly consist of almost summer, summer, still summer, and construction season. Beware of the south when there is the “threat” of snow. It requires the obligatory trip to the grocery store where you will sigh when you watch the natives clearing the shelves of all of the main staples: bread, milk, bottled water, pop tarts, beer, etc.
4.) Collegiate affiliation: Other than stock car racing, they do not care about any sports here other than college basketball. It is imperative as a new resident of the state that you immediately pledge your allegiance to either UNC or Duke. (If you need a hint, UNC = Good; Duke = Evil—it’s the Indiana equivalent to the Golden Domers).
5.) “Oh Bless Your Heart” vs. “I’m Just Saying”: When you hear a southerner whip out the phrase, “Oh Bless Your Heart” in reference to something that you just said, be warned that it may not be the nicest thing. “Oh Bless Your Heart” seems to be the passive southern equivalent to the north’s “
In all seriousness, life in the south has treated Tim and I well. I have just completed my first full season with NASCAR, and am enjoying the opportunities, friends, and experiences that I have been afforded through the organization. Tim is now a full-time student at UNC-Charlotte earning his Masters in Accounting—I know…I know…he is definitely part of the family! He will graduate next summer and will pursue his CPA license. Other than work and school, we have enjoyed many visitors over the last year. We have also enjoyed our proximity to the ocean, the mountains, and many fun southern cities. If you are in town, do not hesitate to stop in—we love visitors!
Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season! May “all y’all” have much prosperity in 2009!
Bless Your Hearts—I’m Just Saying!
Tim and Megan
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