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CONSIDER THIS Radio Show with Annette Petrick

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Southern Touch

Southern Touch
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Backstory  

I have a dear friend who grew up in and now lives again in Mobile, Alabama. To me, she is the epitome of southern charm.  I’ve learned a lot from her, including how to gush over gifts received and make a person feel really special. Imo inspired this story.

Southern Touch

I was originally from Pennsylvania; then New Jersey. After 40 years or so, I wound up being a resident of Virginia. I became a southerner.

As such, I latched on to one of the finest southern phrases = Y’all.

Good morning, y’all.  Have y’all heard the news? Let’s go to y’all’s house.

Oh, I just love to use that phrase. It is so much more gentile than the plural of y-o-u that we used in coal country – Yous ready to go? What are yous doing?   Uh.  No finesse.

Of course, when I added that southern phrase to my northern accent, I got mixed reactions. But it worked so well, I even started using it when I put things in writing. You just might get an email from me with “Y’all” in it. Or it might be in a Christmas card. Or even a radio show.

Now if you really want to appreciate Southern Belle language, ask me about the story behind the southern phrase, “That’s nice.”  Or the popular – “Bless his heart.”  Adding that phrase to it allows you to take virtually any verbal insult, and repeat it in polite company – “He was such a twit, bless his heart.”

So y’all take a lesson from this southern yarn, y’hear? You can get away with saying ANYTHING as long as it’s said with a smile and a southern drawl.

Annette Petrick for Consider This, y’all.

P.S.  My friend Imo could always make you feel special. That was the most endearing part of her southern charm.

[Show #379]

 

Filed Under: Advice and Encouragement, Love and Kindness Tagged With: charm, Southern, southern speech

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Abder says

    October 24, 2021 at

    I moved to GA in the mid eighties, I tried “Y’all” comeback amobg another couple southern slangs with the Jordanian accent, it sure didn’t work for me, but my friends and family insisted I keep using them because they sounded neat, so I did. Then few years later we moved to VA, it sure sounded better by then since I had few years of practice while in GA. But for the past 13 years I have been living in Kuwait , so needless to say I sure need to get back to VA for some practice 😂 or refresher.

    Reply
    • Annette says

      October 25, 2021 at

      Be glad to help you get your southern accent back, Abder.

      Reply
  2. imo says

    October 24, 2021 at

    Oh my goodness gracious! Y’all have made me feel like I’m on Scarlett’s veranda! I’m blushing and giggling! I think I have the vapors…. Thanks, dear friend. Now y’all hurry on down here, y’all. Fiddle-de-de!

    Reply
    • Annette says

      October 25, 2021 at

      No, you head on down here – or half way. We really would like to get together and share more southern stories.

      Reply

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