Without the Southern States, the rest of us would miss...

[susanna]

86. This is an interesting take on it.

I agree with you. I am not so unusual, I suppose, but I am a part of the first generation of my family born/educated in the north. Both of my parents' families were southern, and their ancestors as well, dating well back into the 1700s.

I was taught a lot of southern manners and cultural minutiae growing up. Not so strangely, though, those teachings did not always jibe with my experience in the north. This is also true for all of my cousins (in the same boat as me). I think it's been easier for us to change when we're in the north and not surrounded by the cultural pressures. My southern kin are still how they were, and your post pretty much sums it up, so I won't belabor that.

Of course, my southern kin can pry my fried chicken, smoked pork, and buttermilk biscuits from my cold 'Yankee' hands, if they think they're up for the fight. I still make them and still love them. I'm pretty confident that my takes on these classics would past muster south of the Mason-Dixon line as well. Learned from the best (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa).

on edit: I spell things wrong sometimes. It's a gift.