It brings back memories of being able to walk alone (!) down the Main Street and every person I passed greeted me, whether I had met them and knew them or not. At Christmas every one wished me a Merry Christmas. I was seen. And by age 12 I was able to make presentations to the city council about the broken local ordinances due to city failure to maintain a humane dog shelter. I miss the community
"They" are doing that across America. (People from blue hells.) "They" are changing the demographics. Would "we" be that much different? Would it be the same place "we" wanted to live in? Would the beautiful language stay the same? The people in Tennessee don't seem to have the same great Southern accent as what I grew up hearing. But, it really could be my imagination.
Celia, No journalist on Substack publishes pure-humanity posts like you do. Keep it up. Without these perspectives, reality gets out of balance, harmony. Literally. You want to create a better world? Easy: just work at making your space sustainably exactly how you want it (which always allows room for other people to create exactly what they want). My favorite dialogue from Barbie (paraphrase): "I want to be a creator not what's created."
In autumn 2021, my partner (who is 69yo) and I (64yo) moved to western North Carolina from New England. I'm originally from suburban southern California and lived in northeastern US for much of my adult life. I believed every negative stereotype I learned about 'the South'. My partner is originally from Georgia but fled the south and headed north as a young adult, vowing never to return. Well, after Trump was elected in 2016, things just weren't adding up for the two of us then-liberatl-progressive lesbians. Our long-time friends and loved ones seemed truly consumed with hate for at least half the US population. It was deeply disturbing to us both. Then the nonsense started in 2020, and it was clear that each of us had so much to learn about how the world really works. So, we did learn. Blessedly, we still had our curiosity intact. We became strangers to our friends and loved ones (they would say; I would describe it differently) as each of us woke-up to how the government really operates. By autumn 2021, we left our beloved rural home in Massachusetts and moved to western North Carolina. It is, certainly, an entirely different culture than any in which I've previously lived. But I could not be any more grateful to be where I am. The stereotypes I held about southern people and culture were wildly inaccurate, and I am humbled as the old unquestioned beliefs slough off. Every culture has it's past and present horrors, including the south. But I now recognize that much of what is in history books pertaining to the south is remarkably one-sided ... thus, inaccurate. There's a lot I miss about the New England landscapes, but I do not miss the painfully controlled minds I left behind - my own, and those of my loved ones who remain there. Thanks again for posting this.
Kavita, I would welcome any writing from you on this move, even if it's some small part, anything. For the upcoming travel section of TTB. Fascinating, what you describe. My father was from NC—Greensboro. I feel strongly about Southerners, I love them.
Thank you, Celia. Glad you are considering a travel section for TTB. This morning, while commenting on your post a thought passed through "so many of us share this experience now, there's a book of stories ... ". Have met other folks here on similar paths. I am happy to share something. Not sure what yet, but your invitation opens the possibility. Hope others will join in too. More soon, and sweet dreams.
Western NC holds a warm place in my heart. So glad y'all are happy with your surroundings. Growing up in Alabama, it was not a culture shock to visit our grandmother in Highlands (much different in the 1970s). Now, Franklin was a different breed of cat, all day long!
Thanks! Are you in Alabama now, Lucia? We aim to head just south of Franklin, in Hayesville or Murphy. Say more about your memories of Highlands and Franklin, if you feel like it. Love to hear.
I loved those books when I was a kid growing up in Queens, NY. Still have them. A glimpse into a different way of life. Fascinated me then, and still love it now that I live in the south.
My fave cousin lives out yonder over to Waynesville. She's a retired RN with a later-life MBA, so she can speak medical jargon plus 'regular' English and fit right in with her mountain neighbors and folks in town...sort of a triple threat in the verbal skills department.
Kitten- My twin and I had “twin speak”. “Feeperbowler” was the vacuum cleaner. We had another word - “stommybeeshes” - which came after abracadabra to which giggles always followed. Such sweet memories. 😂🥲
I wish I had taped my Tennessee Granny and her sisters talking, especially her oldest sister who died in the 1990s! She certainly had a way with words! A man in this clip called it singing, I’d say it’s like poetry. The Irish have a way, too, like call and response: one speaks, the other responds....but not for a second is it a way of taking the first person’s turn away! I had an exchange with an inn keeper checking me and my sister in to our room in Waterford some years ago; I was able to keep up but breathless after the short event!
Such expressions as “I’d a soon be in hell with a broken back than to live there”!....is how my old aunt talked on various subjects! I taught English as a second language and when I’d listen to her, I felt my jaw drop in wonder at the flow of words!
I was stunned as well. It's like my father (a southerner) was, with words. He THREW them…all the way out. All the way out. never these pinched expression like all up around here. (CT. !)
These folks understand the meaning of community, which is something few of us get to experience today.
I grew up in Ohio, where, at least several years ago, held the largest number of Amish in any state, according to the Amish man who told us. The Amish have a sense of community for their own as well. Plus, they make great cheese and summer sausage!😊
Watching people in the video reminds me of something most of us are lacking, and painfully so. Community. And a joy for simple living and caring for others. How fortunate they are to have retained their lifestyle.
As a subscriber to the terrain theory as opposed to the germ theory, the vast majority of illnesses are caused by emotions and emotional traumas.
I never even got as much as the sniffles during the Plandemic because I simply understand that disease is not physically contagious. Many, many studies have been conducted to prove contagion but they have all failed.
Emotionally, those vibrations or morphic resonate fields or electrical fields possibly have an impact if the persons involved are fearful of “catching something”.
The Amish are a pretty hearty bunch. Their social structure gives them much support and guidelines to abide by. That goes a long way towards making people feeling included, valued, and supported. Even so, they have their own issues to contend with so I am not trying to glorify them, but I am saying that their social structure and customs seem to be advantage for them.
There are differences between their communities but not nearly as much as in the Mennonites.
I did my Social Worker internship in Hazard, Ky. This brought back so many memories.
I remember on the first of the month when the gov't checks would come in and the people would come down from the hollers and flock to and wrap around the court house. All do to Johnson's war on poverty. They had no clue WHY they were getting a check but were glad to get it.
Reminds me of the small farming community I grew up in in Indiana. Cecilia thank you so much for this respite. It soothes my soul♥️
What a joy to know I was able to do that Ginger, times like these. <3
It brings back memories of being able to walk alone (!) down the Main Street and every person I passed greeted me, whether I had met them and knew them or not. At Christmas every one wished me a Merry Christmas. I was seen. And by age 12 I was able to make presentations to the city council about the broken local ordinances due to city failure to maintain a humane dog shelter. I miss the community
Times like these.
Many of the same things, or real close, said in early 60s, in East Central Indiana.
Sigh.. to be 20 years behind today's times. Sounds nice.
Yeah. Makes me want to move there.
Me too. It would be funny if we all created an influx, all just kind of arrived.
"They" are doing that across America. (People from blue hells.) "They" are changing the demographics. Would "we" be that much different? Would it be the same place "we" wanted to live in? Would the beautiful language stay the same? The people in Tennessee don't seem to have the same great Southern accent as what I grew up hearing. But, it really could be my imagination.
beautiful piece, is same in middle of country, in small places same things.
Celia, No journalist on Substack publishes pure-humanity posts like you do. Keep it up. Without these perspectives, reality gets out of balance, harmony. Literally. You want to create a better world? Easy: just work at making your space sustainably exactly how you want it (which always allows room for other people to create exactly what they want). My favorite dialogue from Barbie (paraphrase): "I want to be a creator not what's created."
Thank you for the kind, warm words, Steve.
Who wouldn’t like that? Only a peckerwood!
When things are left alone to grow organically, and no one is imposing top-down 'solutions', they become beautiful.
In autumn 2021, my partner (who is 69yo) and I (64yo) moved to western North Carolina from New England. I'm originally from suburban southern California and lived in northeastern US for much of my adult life. I believed every negative stereotype I learned about 'the South'. My partner is originally from Georgia but fled the south and headed north as a young adult, vowing never to return. Well, after Trump was elected in 2016, things just weren't adding up for the two of us then-liberatl-progressive lesbians. Our long-time friends and loved ones seemed truly consumed with hate for at least half the US population. It was deeply disturbing to us both. Then the nonsense started in 2020, and it was clear that each of us had so much to learn about how the world really works. So, we did learn. Blessedly, we still had our curiosity intact. We became strangers to our friends and loved ones (they would say; I would describe it differently) as each of us woke-up to how the government really operates. By autumn 2021, we left our beloved rural home in Massachusetts and moved to western North Carolina. It is, certainly, an entirely different culture than any in which I've previously lived. But I could not be any more grateful to be where I am. The stereotypes I held about southern people and culture were wildly inaccurate, and I am humbled as the old unquestioned beliefs slough off. Every culture has it's past and present horrors, including the south. But I now recognize that much of what is in history books pertaining to the south is remarkably one-sided ... thus, inaccurate. There's a lot I miss about the New England landscapes, but I do not miss the painfully controlled minds I left behind - my own, and those of my loved ones who remain there. Thanks again for posting this.
Kavita, I would welcome any writing from you on this move, even if it's some small part, anything. For the upcoming travel section of TTB. Fascinating, what you describe. My father was from NC—Greensboro. I feel strongly about Southerners, I love them.
Thank you, Celia. Glad you are considering a travel section for TTB. This morning, while commenting on your post a thought passed through "so many of us share this experience now, there's a book of stories ... ". Have met other folks here on similar paths. I am happy to share something. Not sure what yet, but your invitation opens the possibility. Hope others will join in too. More soon, and sweet dreams.
Western NC holds a warm place in my heart. So glad y'all are happy with your surroundings. Growing up in Alabama, it was not a culture shock to visit our grandmother in Highlands (much different in the 1970s). Now, Franklin was a different breed of cat, all day long!
Thanks! Are you in Alabama now, Lucia? We aim to head just south of Franklin, in Hayesville or Murphy. Say more about your memories of Highlands and Franklin, if you feel like it. Love to hear.
Foot-tappin' words and music.
Made me smile. It plumb did.
It plumb did. We have to borrow this word forever.
A pig in a poke is worth two in the bush .
I recommend the ‘Foxfire’ series of books ...
(For Appalachian wisdom and folklore)
;)
I loved those books when I was a kid growing up in Queens, NY. Still have them. A glimpse into a different way of life. Fascinated me then, and still love it now that I live in the south.
Ha! A pig in a poke is a phrase still used here in England.
A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush.
My fave cousin lives out yonder over to Waynesville. She's a retired RN with a later-life MBA, so she can speak medical jargon plus 'regular' English and fit right in with her mountain neighbors and folks in town...sort of a triple threat in the verbal skills department.
my twin sisters & me were 10 months apart & we had our own words we made up for things 😹
Kitten- My twin and I had “twin speak”. “Feeperbowler” was the vacuum cleaner. We had another word - “stommybeeshes” - which came after abracadabra to which giggles always followed. Such sweet memories. 😂🥲
very, very cute!!!😹😹😹
I wish I had taped my Tennessee Granny and her sisters talking, especially her oldest sister who died in the 1990s! She certainly had a way with words! A man in this clip called it singing, I’d say it’s like poetry. The Irish have a way, too, like call and response: one speaks, the other responds....but not for a second is it a way of taking the first person’s turn away! I had an exchange with an inn keeper checking me and my sister in to our room in Waterford some years ago; I was able to keep up but breathless after the short event!
Such expressions as “I’d a soon be in hell with a broken back than to live there”!....is how my old aunt talked on various subjects! I taught English as a second language and when I’d listen to her, I felt my jaw drop in wonder at the flow of words!
I was stunned as well. It's like my father (a southerner) was, with words. He THREW them…all the way out. All the way out. never these pinched expression like all up around here. (CT. !)
That was great. I recommend the book, Cracker Culture to learn more about Scotts-Irish people.
The late Joe Bageant's "Deer Hunting with Jesus" is a goldmine, too.
I'm downloading Cracker Culture via Option 4 at the following:
https://annas-archive.org/md5/cae64f5027b6105204eb2d6701a07848
Thanks for the recommendation.
These folks understand the meaning of community, which is something few of us get to experience today.
I grew up in Ohio, where, at least several years ago, held the largest number of Amish in any state, according to the Amish man who told us. The Amish have a sense of community for their own as well. Plus, they make great cheese and summer sausage!😊
Watching people in the video reminds me of something most of us are lacking, and painfully so. Community. And a joy for simple living and caring for others. How fortunate they are to have retained their lifestyle.
I want to be Amish.
Agreed. I envy that lifestyle.
I'm reminded of a little story I read about the Amish.
An Amish man was questioned as to why their community hadn't been affected by "covid" at all. The man answered. "We don't have TV."
There is much truth in that.
As a subscriber to the terrain theory as opposed to the germ theory, the vast majority of illnesses are caused by emotions and emotional traumas.
I never even got as much as the sniffles during the Plandemic because I simply understand that disease is not physically contagious. Many, many studies have been conducted to prove contagion but they have all failed.
Emotionally, those vibrations or morphic resonate fields or electrical fields possibly have an impact if the persons involved are fearful of “catching something”.
The Amish are a pretty hearty bunch. Their social structure gives them much support and guidelines to abide by. That goes a long way towards making people feeling included, valued, and supported. Even so, they have their own issues to contend with so I am not trying to glorify them, but I am saying that their social structure and customs seem to be advantage for them.
There are differences between their communities but not nearly as much as in the Mennonites.
I did my Social Worker internship in Hazard, Ky. This brought back so many memories.
I remember on the first of the month when the gov't checks would come in and the people would come down from the hollers and flock to and wrap around the court house. All do to Johnson's war on poverty. They had no clue WHY they were getting a check but were glad to get it.
Long time ago, there were many moonshiners in that area.
I found out late in life that my dad made moonshine. Not sure why because he rarely drank alcohol.
Cause you have to keep a level head out, not just for the ‘law’ but your ‘business’ in general! 😉
'Cause you don't want to drink up the profits? `\_(•_•)_/`
Ha ha! Sounds good to me.
My people….😊