Thursday, December 29, 2011

That's What I Like about the South

My trip home was ... filled with doctors and trips to transfusion centers and emergency rooms. And not just for my sister. I came down with the worst sore throat ever and, fearing I would make my sister even sicker, I went to the doc myself.

While I'm still processing so much of this trip mentally - how do you force a good time? How do you make a memory on command? One of the best parts of the trip was the joyful yet melancholy differences between the land that was my home and the one that is. I thought I would share a few.

  • Iced Tea - you never have to walk into a restaurant in the South and wonder if their tea is good. It's no question at all... it simply is. Here, even Southern fried chicken chain Popeye's has some of the nastiest tea on earth. And Panera Bread - an East coast chain - has the best. But in the South, every mom and pop to national chain has great iced tea. 
  • Warm weather - While Louisiana can have brutal winters, there always seem to be a sprinkling of mild or even warm days. Back here on our big old mountain, I'm warm for about 20 minutes around one o'clock.  Being cold seems to make my head cold miserable. 
  • Dogs - This is actually a similarity. Like my mountain community, I could always find a dog to love on. My nephew Bailey is such an intense little dude. He would stand with his heavy paws on my thigh and stare deep into my eyes for minutes on end. I felt like he could see my very soul.  He brought much comfort on my trip. There will be a post or two about him in the future.
  • Ghost Stories - I heard a few amazing ones on my trip home. California may be the land of the nutcases but people don't offer up their ghost stories here like they do back home. Or maybe the air is so thick back there that the setting is just ripe for them. 
  • Excellent Seafood - For excellent seafood here, you need a second mortgage. As always, I partook of some of the best fish and crustacean dishes in the world for no more than I would expect to pay for a regular dinner. Sadly, my favorite seafood restaurant burned down the morning of my arrival and another old favorite went out of business when the owners retired. But I found some new favorites.
  • My Mom - as much as I know we irritate each other, it's only because we are so much alike. I was pleasantly surprised to open her fridge and find a heart shaped potato. Could  she be the reason I collect heart shaped stuff on all my hikes?? Is my inner child really that different from hers?

9 comments:

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

So sorry to read about the medical end of this post - hope you and the family are doing better.

That heart-shaped potato is a hoot - guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with you and your Mom, or is it the potato that doesn't grow far from its root?

Happy New Year!

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

Linda@VS said...

Isn't it always the little things that make us homesick and remind us of our roots? I wish your trip could have been better, and I hope that sore throat will finally go away now that you're home.

Snowbrush said...

I would agree except for the seafood, which in the South is nearly all deep fried in my experience.

I'm so, so, so sorry you were sick--bummer.

Berts Blog said...

We love the potatoe. Funny that you would collect heart shaped things.

My Vickie is always looking for rocks in the shape of a heart when she goes hiking along a creek bed.

But a potatoe. She never saw that one coming.

Hope you feel better.

Bert

rottrover said...

We're so glad you're back!!

-Bart and Ruby

Unknown said...

Home is always the sweetest place!! Rosie always thinks so as it has her favourite dishes and restaurants, her hairdresser who she has been going since she was 6 years old, favourite dog parks and etc. Oh, the best weather too... always summer!!!

Anonymous said...

A Siamese potato!

hope you're feeling better, and Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear you are feeling better my friend. Bailey is adorable as well as the potato. :)

Raising Addie said...

I hope your sister is ok. Trips home with medical issues are so hard. And I understand what you mean about how do you force a good time :) But it sounds like you found your happy points. I LOVE Bailey! I've always wanted a corgi. What part of Louisiana were your visiting? We are in Fort Worth.

Iced Tea!! I discovered sweet tea when I moved to Texas. Chicken-Express is the best here.

I LOVE a good ghost story. Maybe you could share one with us :)

LOVE the heart potato! I found a heart shaped potato chip many years ago and gave it to my husband. He still has it next to his computer and none of the pups have eaten it yet.

Lots of Luv & Kisses
Addie, Lucie and Hailey