Reformed Redneck Ramblings

What is a reformed redneck, you ask? Well, some people would say that being a redneck means you were born in the South. I beg to differ. I have met true rednecks from all parts of the world. The reason I begin my first entry with a writing about rednecks is because the friend that encouraged me to write a blog in the first place gets a kick out of the fact that I was born and raised in a very well respected red-neck town that she now works in. Not to mention the fact that Louisiana has its own misgivings. It's really not about rednecks, so much as it is about the South and all that it represents. All joking aside, I write now with pressure from friends, and for the fun of it as a means to communicate with others (they will cringe at my grammar, but I'm not afraid because I know they love me). I'm really not much of a writer, but when you're going through what some would call a mid-life crisis, what the heck!!!

The South is a very special place for me. There are many things near and dear to my heart that I learned to love growing up right here in the South. God, family, friendships, grits and sweet tea!! Now I'm not reformed as a redneck-- I'm still tried and true, but I am reformed in my theology. Back to the South. Stay with me. I took a road trip a few weeks ago with a few very close friends. Destination- Used bookstore. We stopped for breakfast at Judy's Motel Restaurant, a cozy little dive in a place called Richfield(Alton would be jealous). Not much on decorum, but with lots of personal Southern style! A pitcher of sweet tea on every table and waitresses that look you in the eye and call you honey and mean it! Well, who was our waitress but none other than Judy's own daughter! Quintessential Southern belle, not the Scarlett O'Hara type mind you, but with a finesse all her own. One of my friends suggested we be adventurous and order a Southern delicacy on the menu that somehow each of us managed to escape growing up in the South--liver mush!! Now I like collard greens and fatback, but liver mush did not have a great reputation in my mind. But aside from the fact that my Granny Lucy only fed this stuff to her dog Princess, I was not about to be the only one who wasn't brave enough to try it. Judy's daughter asked us if we had ever eaten it before. We admitted we hadn't, she with quick wit and a sheepish grin suggested we order it "crispy". That was just the beginning of an extraordinary day spent with Laughter and Friends. More ramblings to come!