The Southerner

I grew up in the South. I was born and raised in Florida, spent some years in Georgia, attended college in Nashville, TN, and spent most of my adult life in Virginia, and now Maryland. Besides a three-year stint in Vermont during law school, my home has always been in the South. 

I don’t notice that I have an accent, but I’m told it comes out at odd times. Mainly, as I travel South, the accent intensifies. My “veHicle” takes me back to my roots, ya’ll. So, it comes as no surprise that I adore southern food. I always find something new. For example, at a moonshine distillery tasting, I was told quite seriously to look for notes of french toast, as the employee waved the beverage under her nose in illustration before imbibing, as if this were the finest of wines. So refined and pretentious. French toast!

On a recent trip to South Carolina, I ordered something I’d never had before. Raise your hand if you’ve had triggerfish with cucamelon. A perfect addition of South Carolina peaches, and a heavy accent when you pronounce cucamelon, and you have a delicious treat! I have read that there is a great debate about whether South Carolina or Georgia peaches are superior, but in this meal the SC peaches win. I retain the right to change my mind (when I’m visiting Georgia).

Now that I’m back in the Mid-Atlantic, I wonder how long my accent will hang around. Probably just long enough to embarrass the children. Bless their hearts.