From A Detroiter to Southern Brethren

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by HatchetJack

Alan Jackson grew up about 15 miles from my farmstead and I can tell you he
sings a lot of truth. The South gets a bad rap from people elsewhere mostly
from movies and tv. All I know about California is from what I saw on Chips
and a few Cheech and Chong movies and the same could be said about
other areas. If you have never really toured the South or any areas of the
country I don't see how they can really base an honest opinion of it.
I have been to downtown Atlanta and New Orleans and they are not good
examples of what goes on in small towns across the South. I know most of
us grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show and while it was a comedy it did
do a better job of showing what life was like in the South. You can still find
a little Mayberry in any southern city. You may have to hang out at the local
BBQ joint, attend a cruise in, a chilli cook off, a fish fry, a horse shoe
tourny, hang out at a hunting camp, go to a high school football game
watch a parade but you will find it. There are some real people down here.
A bunch of them. And they can all cook.

The Lion's Club puts on a heckuva fish fry every year, here in Costa Mesa, to benefit the Boy's and Girl's Club. Wouldn't miss it for all those peaches in Georgia. There's a bit of small town everywhere in this great land, even in Californication. You just have to look for it.

BTW, Dad went to North Georgia College in Dahlonega when he was in the 10th Armored Division in '42-'43. He sure liked those Georgia peaches. Heh, heh...

[merrylander]

The Canadian Maritimes are where the word hospitality was coined. Had good times in Bavaria but when I married Florence I also acquired a Bavarian sister-in-law, what a b***h. Spent a month in Dallas one week. Enjoyed many southern places, other's not so much

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by bobabode

You hate Tony Bennett?

How is that even possible?

Dave

[JJIII]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

One thing that the South has to offer is some fine writers. The one that immediately comes to mind is Roy Blount, Jr.

Of course, the South also gave us Jimmy Carter.


Regards,

D-Ray

Another good writer from the South is Robert Ruark. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ruark)
If you haven't read any of his books I would suggest starting with "The Old Man and The Boy".

[ebacon]

I was just reminiscing about the good old days, such as the early 1980s when Detroit was still at least halfway glued together right. Then I thought about Nashville and how much it changed after GM built the Spring Hill plant. They were on pins and needles a few years ago when GM was deciding whether to close the plant.

Big business is like a drug. When you are in it it feels good, but the withdrawal is a bitch when the drug dealer moves to another town.

It's best to just not get wrapped up in it in the first place IMO. I have deep respect for agriculturual communities and hope they hold onto them as long as they can.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by JJIII

Another good writer from the South is Robert Ruark. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ruark)
If you haven't read any of his books I would suggest starting with "The Old Man and The Boy".

No love for Harper Lee or Tennessee Williams?

[JJIII]

Originally Posted by bobabode

No love for Harper Lee or Tennessee Williams?

If you want to sit down and make a list of every writer from the South, go ahead. I wanted to mention one.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by ebacon

I was just reminiscing about the good old days, such as the early 1980s when Detroit was still at least halfway glued together right. Then I thought about Nashville and how much it changed after GM built the Spring Hill plant. They were on pins and needles a few years ago when GM was deciding whether to close the plant.

Big business is like a drug. When you are in it it feels good, but the withdrawal is a bitch when the drug dealer moves to another town.

It's best to just not get wrapped up in it in the first place IMO. I have deep respect for agriculturual communities and hope they hold onto them as long as they can.

Good analogy.

Regards,

D-Ray

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by bobabode

No love for Harper Lee or Tennessee Williams?

Tennessee Williams: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

Loved the movie with Elizabeth Taylor, Burl Ives and Paul Newman.

Burl Ives surprised here. Especially loved his discourse on "Mendacity".

Tennessee did not like the movie because it excised the homosexual references.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by ebacon

I was just reminiscing about the good old days, such as the early 1980s when Detroit was still at least halfway glued together right. Then I thought about Nashville and how much it changed after GM built the Spring Hill plant. They were on pins and needles a few years ago when GM was deciding whether to close the plant.

Big business is like a drug. When you are in it it feels good, but the withdrawal is a bitch when the drug dealer moves to another town.

It's best to just not get wrapped up in it in the first place IMO. I have deep respect for agriculturual communities and hope they hold onto them as long as they can.

It is a double edged sword. When I think of the early '80s, I still hear the line, ".....United States Steel has announced that it will cease all operations in the Youngstown district over the next three years. By 1984, this will bring the total loss of steel jobs in the valley since Black Friday* to 27,000."

After hearing that, I went straight to the recruiters office and joined the Navy.

The eighties were hard times for some parts of this country. Very hard.

(*Black Friday was in 1977, when Youngstown Sheet & Tube declared bankruptcy and laid off 4,600.)

Dave