Growing up in the Magnolia State is an amazing experience that can absolutely have a lasting impression on your life, and maybe even the lives of others.
And you don’t have to dig too deep to find a connection to a fellow Mississippian. Any time you meet someone else from Mississippi, you’ll talk until you find mutual friends, and chances are, you will! You even get bonus points if you can trace one of those friends to each other’s specific hometown. You might even laugh so hard you’ll snort Barq’s Root Beer right out of your nose.
So run and get your mama and them and hunker down for a few sure-fire signs you’re a true Mississippian.
You Say, Ma’am or Sir
Well, it’s just good manners to call someone, no matter their age, ma’am or sir. That’s how a Mississippi mama knows you were raised right. But, chances are you’ve been scolded by someone who was raised in a different manner and took offense to your politeness all the while you are cringing and thinking, “I’m sorry I made you feel old, but if I don’t say it my mama will appear out of nowhere and correct me with a smack to the back of the head.” And she knows everything. Whether you’re late for church or stuck in jail mama knows before you even get home. Don’t think for a second she doesn’t.
You Know Some Double Trouble
You know someone with a double name that is as pretty as a song when said with a Mississippi accent.There are tons of awesome dialects across Mississippi with a sweet, low, and slow Southern drawl. You’re bound to know at least one Anna Claire or John Michael. Maybe a Sarah Beth or William Henry. They are all there and peppered with lots of ain’ts, y’alls, reckons, and fixin-tos that effortlessly roll off the tongue. Especially, when you’re late for dinner.
You Can’t Wait For Football Weather
The fall season does not bring any relief from the heat. Instead, it brings the battle for the Golden Egg, and it’s serious business. From birth, you’re either an Ole Miss Rebel or a Mississippi State Bulldog, and there’s really no choice in the matter. And Hotty Toddy is not really a drink. It’s just the only way to respond if you went to Ole Miss and someone asks you, “Are you ready?”
You Say Before & After Hurricane Katrina
Time is stamped as before and after Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005. So if you ask someone about a specific event the answer is always before or after the storm.
You Get Down & Dirty When Eating
You’re always ready to clean that catch, shuck those oysters, and devein that shrimp. Half the fun of crawfish boils is getting tingly fingers from the spicy Cajun seasoning while peeling by the pound. You definitely get dirty, but it’s oh so worth it.
You Drink Sweet Tea Or Coke
Sweet Tea is the drink of the south, but Coke is perfectly acceptable. And if you answer Coke, then you need to follow up with clarification of Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, or Barq’s.
Casseroles Mean You Care
The quickest, and most sincere way, to a neighbor’s heart is through a casserole. It’s also the best way to get to know anyone since you’ll inevitably be invited in to discuss your recipe and your entire life story.
You Shop Local
You adore locally grown vegetables, and locally made crafts, and look forward to local festivals. You love your state and take pride in locally supporting it.
Born & Raised
No one ever really leaves Mississippi. Sure, people might go from time to time, but they tend to come back. If you ask someone where they’re from originally, you’ll probably get a response like “born and raised in Mississippi.” And if they are not from Mississippi, but live here, you’ll often hear, “I got here as fast as I could.”
*Photo courtesy of istockphoto.com.
