Y'all Come Back

North, south, east and west--it's confusing to try and divide the US into such distinct sections these days. But when speaking of American culture, we are forced to do it. When relocating to the south, after growing up in southern California, there was much to learn and plenty of adjustments to make. Southern Californians are, by nature, rebellious. Not in an overt manner, it's just that our forefathers who moved west were leaving the east for a reason. Some were looking to make a better life for their families--a life to be carved out of the wilderness, where wealth wasn't required as much as a strong back, courage and tenacity. The statement, "That's the way we've always done it...," can only hold people back for so long. Some folks just wanted to re-invent their lives. So when opportunity showed up, our brave, rebellious predecessors took the chance and bolted through the open door of opportunity.


It's not that everyone in California is aware or even remotely connected to the adventurous motivations of their ancestors. Most of the time we perpetuate the culture we've been handed only to pass it down without figuring out it's origin. One such cultural difference between east and west is how people respond to their elders here in Tennessee. It's appropriate to say, as a show of respect, "Mr. Jamie," rather than calling me by my first name alone. In the case of a new acquaintance, it is appropriate to say, "Mr. Harvill." When westerners tell a southern kid to drop the "yes sir, no sir," the child will usually answer, "Yes sir!" So don't even try to correct them--it's in their genes. It is an indelible part of the southern fabric.

As a native Californian I can say that we are ego-centric. Because so much cultural change has come out of Hollywood like movies, music and television, it's mistakenly easy to think that the US takes it's marching orders from us. When I visit California, my family always asks me how it is living in the south...kind of in a precious manner, head tilted to show curiosity, with a little dose of, "bless their hearts!" California can sometimes come off as the center of the universe and the rest of the world resents it! I know it's not done on purpose, but it comes across that way sometimes.

Since I am an adopted southern son, I will poke fun at one of the south's cultural idiosyncrasies. If a southerner ever says to you, "Y'all come back," don't show up next week, because they probably forgot, as they didn't really mean it to begin with--it's just an expression.

The truth is, we make our home where our heart is. My heart is in Tennessee. Y'all come and see us...just kidding!