Monday, June 23, 2008

This Northern Gal Goes South

Being in North Carolina this weekend for the She Speaks conference was such a delight. I could almost feel my pulse settle into a slower rhythm while I was there. The highways weren't so crowded or frenetic feeling. People in shops and restaurants were friendly and polite. And then there were the drawling accents - the langurous "y'alls" and "girlfriends" that peppered conversations with Southern sweetness.

The best part of this was listening to my inner voice pick up that drawl and carry it into all my interior monologues and thoughts. I was much kinder to myself while down South. Even if I had wanted to say to myself, "What were you thinking, you idiot!" after some social misstep (which always generates that kind of reaction from my inner voice - it's a very, very hard-to-please type), "Well now, what were y'all thinking, girlfriend?" always comes off half as harsh. Which had me wishing there was some way I could stay.

And then there was the sweet tea. I'm a tea drinker through and through. Die hard. I brew my first cup while still in my pajamas. Hot or cold, I love tea - with LOTS of sugar. Around here, you get your tea without sugar, or if it's sweetened, it's only mildly so. But sweet tea in North Carolina? Now that I could live with every day. Yep, I was thinking I could have me some sweet tea like that all the time. Y'all know what I mean?

But this Northern gal is back home now. And while she may be driving faster and talking flatter, her pulse is still lazing along Southern style. It was such a pleasure to visit North Carolina and be treated to a retreat-like conference hosted by the wonderful team of Proverbs 31 Ministries. I'd go back in a Northern heartbeat.

6 musings:

Ed G. said...

Hi there and welcome home. Nice post. Makes me wanna head back down South. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that you've been tagged. Sorry. :-)

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

I am from the West coast and I couldn't agree more with you about the sweet tea...

I pray I get to go back next year.

loved your blog,

Joanne

Lara said...

Ed - 7 things? Really, you wanna know? Okay, I'll take a stab at it, but it may take a day or two to come up with. Obviously I didn't sport a Jheri curl 'do, but I did do the white version for a little while with the "wet" look (I know -- ewww!).

Joanne - so glad you stopped by. Did you do the writer's track or speaker's track? As someone who is pursuing both I loved interacting with both writers and speakers all weekend.

L.L. Barkat said...

Oh, I love that thought that we could chastise ourselves with a different accent and therefore have a whole different experience... a little grace sprinkled on the truth. :)

Carol said...

Thanks for dropping by. I'm so glad you enjoyed the South? Y'all come back now, you hear?

Lara said...

LL - grace on truth, indeed! Brings a balance, doesn't it?

Carol - I definitely intend to head back South when I can (and hopefully bring my family along)!