I have come to the semi-conclusion, once again, that there is something biologically off kilter in me, with regards to my lack of inbred southern belle qualities. Let's begin with the topic of social organizations...oh my dear heavenly stars (well, that sounded quite southern actually, but my rhetoric doesn't count).
We see it in the movies, We hear it from our great grandmothers: Society is of the utmost importance for a young lady growing up in the "su'th'n" (southern) states. It marks the time in our lives when our elders and peers recognize us as women, nay, eligible women of great morale and elegance. We are trained by the southern lady brigade how to correctly set a table, flaunt ourselves with taste, and most importantly, how to know a little something about everything...and everyone. As girls, we laugh and flirt and toss our hair; We value beauty over discomfort, and sing our little songs while we hold hands and smile. When the songs are over and the pictures are taken, we have been programed to simultaneously say, "awwwwwwwwuh!" Then we hug and giggle again and it all starts over. Many of us fourth generation southerners embrace our heritage and cannot imagine any other way of life-After all, pride is deeply seeded in our neck of the woods. Some of us, however, go through the motions and then ask ourselves "What just happened?"
The past couple of weeks have been a reminder of the many links that make up the sausage of the south (ok, so bad analogy). haha! I am always watching in aw (not awwwwuh), our ways and am so confused by them at the same time. Part of me is one hundred percent southern-inside out and upside down. The other half of me is completely unconvetional and nontraditional, in the above context. I do not own one pearl. Pink is a needle in my haystack of a closet; And, I'm sorry, but I am not a debutant. The most difficult thing in the world for me (one of the most dificult things in the world for me) is to be absolutely, genuinly, over the top excited to be in a room full of shrieking girls, all dressed alike, chanting cheers and talking about what is so great about us. What is it? Why do we think we are incomplete without our perfectly white teeth and our frizzless non-ponytailed hair?! I don't get it; I am too harsh. It seems silly, though...
I am guilty of being a girl (not a negative...actually a positive) and of laughing a lot and being a part of groups like the ones described above; And I am glad to be a well rounded person who is able to benefit and learn from the things of life. However, I have something in me that does not understand why pearls and pink fingernail polish and sappy songs about sisterhood (dare I use such a sacred word??) are life altering concepts. Then again, I guess some girls wouldn't understand how gutting a house and starting over, having a deep conversation about what is wrong with the world, and senic rides through back roads of the other 49 states of the continental United States can be life altering concepts as well. This sounds so mean, doesn't it? Whoops. And I would most likely be ridiculed by a thousand and one critics for making broad generalizations, wouldn't I?
I should speak with more couth and less malice. (Smile...hair toss...giggle)
I think what I am trying to say is this: I like fried chicken. I like sweet tea. I enjoy a pretty brunch. I use make up and design dresses. I say yall and wear perfume. I am even considered by some to be a socialite. But see, the thing is...I must have been adopted. I just know that my biological family is from some distant place where pink doesn't rule and where grey doesn't drool. There, girls are just as feminine, but their hair is wild and they don't mind smelling like a camp fire. Oh what am I saying? Where is this getting me? I believe I just checked myself into the the dog house inn. No...I have great friends from distant places who play with plants and softballs and don't mind leaving the house without their lipgloss. Now that I have made myself and my down to earth friends out to be tomboys who hate nice dinners and good manners, let's not forget....we clean up well and love fancy parties. I really just hate rush and can't take any more girl talk.
We see it in the movies, We hear it from our great grandmothers: Society is of the utmost importance for a young lady growing up in the "su'th'n" (southern) states. It marks the time in our lives when our elders and peers recognize us as women, nay, eligible women of great morale and elegance. We are trained by the southern lady brigade how to correctly set a table, flaunt ourselves with taste, and most importantly, how to know a little something about everything...and everyone. As girls, we laugh and flirt and toss our hair; We value beauty over discomfort, and sing our little songs while we hold hands and smile. When the songs are over and the pictures are taken, we have been programed to simultaneously say, "awwwwwwwwuh!" Then we hug and giggle again and it all starts over. Many of us fourth generation southerners embrace our heritage and cannot imagine any other way of life-After all, pride is deeply seeded in our neck of the woods. Some of us, however, go through the motions and then ask ourselves "What just happened?"
The past couple of weeks have been a reminder of the many links that make up the sausage of the south (ok, so bad analogy). haha! I am always watching in aw (not awwwwuh), our ways and am so confused by them at the same time. Part of me is one hundred percent southern-inside out and upside down. The other half of me is completely unconvetional and nontraditional, in the above context. I do not own one pearl. Pink is a needle in my haystack of a closet; And, I'm sorry, but I am not a debutant. The most difficult thing in the world for me (one of the most dificult things in the world for me) is to be absolutely, genuinly, over the top excited to be in a room full of shrieking girls, all dressed alike, chanting cheers and talking about what is so great about us. What is it? Why do we think we are incomplete without our perfectly white teeth and our frizzless non-ponytailed hair?! I don't get it; I am too harsh. It seems silly, though...
I am guilty of being a girl (not a negative...actually a positive) and of laughing a lot and being a part of groups like the ones described above; And I am glad to be a well rounded person who is able to benefit and learn from the things of life. However, I have something in me that does not understand why pearls and pink fingernail polish and sappy songs about sisterhood (dare I use such a sacred word??) are life altering concepts. Then again, I guess some girls wouldn't understand how gutting a house and starting over, having a deep conversation about what is wrong with the world, and senic rides through back roads of the other 49 states of the continental United States can be life altering concepts as well. This sounds so mean, doesn't it? Whoops. And I would most likely be ridiculed by a thousand and one critics for making broad generalizations, wouldn't I?
I should speak with more couth and less malice. (Smile...hair toss...giggle)
I think what I am trying to say is this: I like fried chicken. I like sweet tea. I enjoy a pretty brunch. I use make up and design dresses. I say yall and wear perfume. I am even considered by some to be a socialite. But see, the thing is...I must have been adopted. I just know that my biological family is from some distant place where pink doesn't rule and where grey doesn't drool. There, girls are just as feminine, but their hair is wild and they don't mind smelling like a camp fire. Oh what am I saying? Where is this getting me? I believe I just checked myself into the the dog house inn. No...I have great friends from distant places who play with plants and softballs and don't mind leaving the house without their lipgloss. Now that I have made myself and my down to earth friends out to be tomboys who hate nice dinners and good manners, let's not forget....we clean up well and love fancy parties. I really just hate rush and can't take any more girl talk.
posted by bargame at 7:46 PM
1 Comments:
love it.
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