I have been asked by more than one person, "Am I going to read about this conversation on your blog tomorrow?" Um, maybe. I've earned that reputation by doing things such as what I'm about to do right now ...
I want to tell you guys something a friend said to me today. All of you who are in the throes of a love-hate relationship with the South may be able to relate. And those who are not - who really unequivocally love alabama - there's no harm intended. My home's in Alabama, too, no matter where I lay my head (or egg, whatever). By the way, you know how my memory is - I'm paraphrasing, so you'll be slightly misquoted here, my friend who said this funny thing:
"Alabama is like a bad relationship. You keep looking back on it and remembering the good times, but whenever you are there, you're unhappy. If Alabama were a person, I'd tell them to just leave you alone. You need to break up with Alabama, Stephanie. Just call it off."
9 comments:
I LOVE that quote!! How true is that? A girl in my small group was asking last night if I liked living in Alabama - at first I adamently said no - but then I thought about it - yes, I did, because of the memories there, I loved my time there. As for Alabama itself - not so much. =)
Now Tennessee... there was a keeper. Tennessee was so good to you- you were so happy the whole time! I know at first you thought Tennessee wasn't your type, but look how well it turned out...
You are "Tina" to Alabama's "Ike".
i must speak up for the Alabama lovers...though I may not constitute as a true Alabama lover...I love the culture of the south, the culture of Alabama...since going to Russia, I really appreciate the place I was born and raised...does Alabama in itself have any intrinsic value?? well the country and the slow pace is something that I appreciate...I don't know how well I would fare in the city...and the fact that winter is SO mild...it's wonderful...hardly no snow ever!! However I must admit, the best thing about Alabama is that it's home. I don't hate Kentucky...i actually like it, and if I hadn't grown up in Alabama, it would be just another state and one that I would probably never want to visit...but I did grow up in Alabama and it has such a special place in my heart....however...you should ask me around November after I've moved back...I will have been living there for about 6 months...and then we'll really know...
now, watergate does not BOTHER me...
man, hahahaaaaaaaa SO TRUE! I do love lots about it, and it's apparently going to be in every novel I write. mm hmm. I hated the no snow, and I hated the humidity, and I hated the lame dedication to many things evil and outdated. So, in Mass, the weather is more to my liking, the people are more diverse and most definitely loved and accepted as they are, and I like those things. I miss my family, but my mom and dad and me never lived near our extended family, anyway - they're spread all over the country, so that's not a big deal to me. I'm just spread far, too. I miss front porches and azaleas and sweet tea and Auburn fans and whatnot, but not enough ...yet. That quote's dead on. Good girl, whoever said that! (jab)
Haha! Though I'm a South Carolinian, my roommate and I both had failed relationships with Alabama boys. We've divorced 'Bama, as well. :)
Now Tennessee is hot stuff! And we do have lots of African Americans in Nashville, actually.
and yet how will Alabama ever learn if no one is here to teach them? If all the smart, intelligent, open-minded people left, who would show them how to change and be a better Alabama? We need some of you, to challenge us, to show us a better way. Be the change you wish to see in the world...
So, go, stay, love, hate, to each his own, just make where ever you are, a better place to be. CAB
Amen, Carrie.
Carrie's right, but it's damn hard to STAY in Alabama when the general consensus is "go where you're wanted". I remember discussing gay marriage with one of my best friends in the universe, and ...well, this was BEFORE and I still felt as strongly as I do now...and we were actually discussing gay marriage in Massachusetts, and how if they moved OUT of Mass, their marriage wouldn't be upheld as legally binding anywhere else in the nation, it'd be on a state to state basis, yadda...and this friend, he said.."well...they oughta stay where they're wanted. if they're not wanted here, why come here?". Obviously, not many things have stung me quite the way that statement stung me (and noooo. it ain't why I'm here :) ) .. but that's a generalized commentary on the way the population in the deep south FEELS about people of color and alternative lifestyles and furreners. and can you really blame people for finally saying.."all right, I'll go where I'm wanted. I'll go where my family and I can be happy, accepted, loved, seen as normal."? Just some thoughts on leaving to live the life you want/staying to CHANGE the place you are. -- Janet
p.s. yes, Laurie's from the Eclectic area with Carrie and I, and she was in the youth group with Stephanie and the restuvus. <3
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