SDT9Columns
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3:11 AM
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On The Web
Life, South of the Mason-Dixon Line B Y
P A T T Y
G R E E N E
Welcome National Convention Attendees to Charlotte, NC! Since we are focusing on Charlotte this issue, I thought I would digress from things virtual this month and make a few observations on our new life in the South. Just over a year ago we took a huge leap of faith, packed up our stuff, rounded up the cat, said good-by to our family and our life-long friends in New England, and headed for the mysterious South. With the help of Ginny Brock at Allen Tate and the Allen Tate team – a GREAT realtor - we bought a nice house tucked away in a small development in Monroe, NC, and started a new chapter in our life. So,,, in the for what it’s worth category, here’s a few hits and some “missing”s for us as we enter our second season of being Yankees trying to fit in and be Southerners.
retail who are polite! I am still sometimes a bit surprised when I go to the grocery store and the employees actually talk to me or want to help.
L A GOOD MEAT STORE! There was this great little neighborhood shop back in NH that had the BEST marinated steak and turkey tips, homemade sausages, and the best steaks I’ve ever seen. So far, we haven’t found any place like that down here in the Monroe area (if you know of one,,,, PLEASE let me know!!!!). Someone could make a fortune if they opened up a place like that (hint, hint,,,)
K INNER OR OUTER LOOP? Roads that change their name three or four times even though you never turn off them, and in some cases, stay in the same city? Rocky River Road, which starts by our house, meanders north, then appears to intersect up 85 a piece – but wait! The road never connects! I think I’d like to name the piece of street in front of our house Greene Lane, or Yankee Way, or something else. Good thing we invested in an almost current street map or we’d still be looking for Sardis Road!
K A GARAGE TO PUT OUR CARS IN. I don’t think we’ll ever get our cars into the garage. The truck’ll fit in with half an inch to spare, but of course we would have to get all the boxes out. I am realizing that it doesn’t matter, however, because down here it seems that garages aren’t for cars anyways! Instead, they are for a couple of lounge chairs, a fridge, a TV, and the recycle bin, a place where the beverages are cold and there’s lots of good conversation and fellowship. ☺ COMMON COURTESY, WILLINGNESS TO HELP. It could be me, but down here people seem to be more willing to be polite and helpful. I rented a car one trip north and the woman at the rental place was downright surly – I was surprised at how quickly I have adjusted to people in
☺ BBQ!!!! Boy, does the south know how to do some good BBQ. Lots and lots of BBQ. Beef, pork, chicken – what a feast! And grills can be used twelve months instead of only five! LG OOD CHINESE FOOD TAKEOUT The kind with brown fried rice (not yellow!) and some good non-chain pizza – we are still looking for both! We miss our hole in the wall places that we found in NH. L TOPSOIL. Man, do we miss good old fashioned northern dirt! This
SDT9Columns
6/17/07
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red stuff that passes for dirt sure is hard gittin’ used to, and it isn’t easy to do anything with! I have a picture of Steve after we first moved in, watering the clay, barefoot – with orange feet and legs! Orange has never been my color, but I am slowly getting used to it! ☺ MAJOR SNOWSTORM ARE ABOUT AN INCH. I flew home to call a dance in March and New England welcomed me with a foot of snow (nice timing!!!). I stayed with our of our sons and his family, and as I was postponing getting out of bed that morning, I came to the realization that I didn’t miss having to scrape snow and ice off my car before I could go anywhere. Imagine my delight when I got up and discovered that John had cleared my car and there wasn’t a lick of snow on it! And yes, thanks to the choir, I know that it is important to get bread and milk if anything over an inch is expected (they are trying their best to southernize me!!!) Steve has taken great delight in calling the kids when we hear of snow up north and letting them know that he had just finished mowing the lawn. Heh, heh, heh! ☺ FOCUS ON FAITH AND FAMILY. There are houses of worship on every corner, of all denominations, sizes, and personalities. Many businesses are closed Sunday mornings for families to spend time together or go to church people aren’t shy about sharing their faith; most square dance events begin with prayer - I think that makes a huge difference in quality of life and social climate. We miss our church family back in NH still, but we have been lucky enough to have found a church down here in Monroe.
L OUR SQUARE DANCE COMMUNITY. I miss teaching and seeing “my dancers” on a regular basis! It’s been interesting basically starting over again with my square dance calling. We have met some great people in the dance community down here, and are picking up dances here and there. While the mechanics of the activity are slightly different everywhere you go, square dancers are genuinely welcoming and friendly. The local dancers and organizations have been working hard for many years to put on this national convention for their guests, and I am quite sure that visitors to our hometown will experience some great Southern hospitality, and lots of great dancing! All things considered, moving south was the very best thing we could have done for ourselves. While we miss our family and friends, it’s been a hoot being educated about sweet tea and how to say “Concord,” explaining that B&M brown bread is actually bread in a can that goes great with beans and hot dogs, figuring out what a “buggy” is, and wondering where to store the trash bin, winter boots, and snow shovels. Oh,,, and how “cold” isn’t really a part of our vocabulary now – it’s now “chilly.” They haven’t kicked us back to New England yet, so I reckon we’re fixin’ to stay for a spell. At least until I figure out how that big hair stays big or get tired of hearing Please and Thank You! So stop by for a spell and we’ll open up the garage, pull up a chair and have some tea (sweet, of course) and a piece of pie. God is good, all the time!
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