by The Boss
When I moved to Vermont in 2001, my dad could not understand why I would want to surround myself with a bunch of Yankees. My dad also couldn’t understand why I wanted to have my babies in Vermont, because Alabama is “God’s Country.” I love the south and I love being a Southerner. I love Southern Food ( Check out SouthernPlate.com!) The North isn’t all that bad though.
I’d like to dispel the myth that all Northern places are cities, and Northerners know nothing of “country life”. This is very hard for my grandmother to grasp. She likes to say things to Ben like, “Bet you aint ever seen hay before.” The town Ben grew up in is like the size of Opryland… maybe. You will find the following things; An adorable community church, where I tied the knot; A post office inside of a general store; A Brigham Young memorial; A park, 2 lakes, Farms, and People. It’s more country than any place I’ve ever been in Alabama, Tennessee and even Mississippi. Now, I know that might be a hard thing for some of you Southerners to swallow. I know you don’t want the North being more country than you are, but it’s time to come to terms.
When I lived in Vermont, I missed the South terribly. Me, my sister-in-laws, and our friend Bekah went to see Sweet Home Alabama in the theater. I was so freaking obnoxious through out the entire movie. I am 100% certain that Jenny may have wanted to punch me in the face. When the guy said, “You can take the girl out of the Honky Tonk, but you can’t take the Honky Tonk out of the girl” I almost cried.
Ben and I argue about the correct terms of things all the time. I call blankets on the floor “a palate.” He calls blankets on the floor, “blankets on the floor.” I say things are “in the floor” and he says they’re “on the floor.” I call the metal rectangle object on the back of my car “a tag” and he calls it a “license plate.”
Ben always knows when I am talking to my family on the phone because my Super Strength Southern Accent kicks into gear, and he can’t understand a word I say. The funny thing is, my family can’t understand a lot of what I say either. Most still think I sound like a Yankee. My “Yankee Voice” is from working in a gift shop in Vermont and no one being able to understand me. So, I adapted. Now, no one understands me.
Oh, yeah… something else the South needs to know. I’m no expert, so don’t think I am getting a big head here, but Vermont is a STATE.
Car Insurance Sales Woman: “Mrs. Senecal, do you have insurance on your cars now?”
Me: “Yes, they’re insured through a company in Vermont”
Car Insurance Sales Woman: “Yes, ma’am. Where is Vermont?”
Me: “Ummmm…Right beside New York”
Car Insurance Sales Woman: “Oh OK, so it’s in New York state.”
Me: “Ummm…No. Vermont is a state beside New York state.”
Car Insurance Sales Woman: “OH! Well, that shows how smart I am.”
“Yes ma’am it does”
Now, I would have looked over that if it were an isolated incident. But it’s not.
