Southern Livin'

Living in the South is so charming. It has a very U.P. feel to it, which is a blast from the past for Mr. Go and I, and makes us feel very much at home. The humidity sure is spot on--you step out your door and nearly drown in the air--and the bugs, too. Ah yes, the creepy feeling of insects crawling all over you, feels like home.

These lovely whiteboard houses with wrap around porches and rocking chairs--makes me want a lemonade and an old coon hound. (Flotsam will have to do. He snores like one, anyway.)

Babs is a big hit in the South. Southerners seem to love talking to/about babies. There's nothing more adorable than a large, bearded Southern trucker hunching down and giving a tiny wave to a shy little baby. She's been called a Little Darlin' with Cheeks for Days a couple times. She's a great conversation starter, and she's always getting waves from people across the room or as they pass by. 

Mostly, we've found folks to be very nice and honest, if a bit heavy handed with the religion. There's churches here like there are Starbucks in Denver. And some alarming billboards.

Found at Home Depot on July 4

It's very patriotic too. July 4 was a huge deal. Enormous fireworks tents every 500 feet (which were shot off from both of our neighbors' backyards until 10:30pm much to Flotsam and Jetsam's dismay) and the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem sung on the radio every morning. There's something about that feeling of community and pride that brings people together.

For early risers like us, it's tough if we want to go do anything since most places don't open until 8 or 9, and if you want to do something on Sunday, good luck.

Overall, it's a much slower pace, which was expected from a smaller town, and it's a nice change. It's good to be reminded to just slow it down. You don't have to do everything at once. If you need to put it off for a while, that's alright too. Just sit down in your rocking chair and watch your baby playing, or pet your dog. The work will keep; stop, be present in the now and be together.