There are things I love about each of the places we've lived. I love the brilliant colors of fall in Pennsylvania. I love the ingenuity and hard work of the people in Nebraska. I love the independence and lack of regard for the rest of the world in Texas. But, Alabama is my home-place, where I was raised and married. It's where my family still lives and my kids were born. “Sweet Home” is my theme song, playing in my head when I need to walk with a bit more confidence. So, Alabama will always have a huge hunk of my heart and a special spot in my mind.

We're fresh off a trip home for Christmas. It's a terribly long drive from Pennsylvania, but it was so worth it to be down South, even for a short time. I was surprised on this visit that I wasn't just consumed with our family, but I was struck and charmed with some stuff that's particular to the South itself, it's culture and cadence. I guess we've been gone long enough to notice some differences.

So, here are 5 things I love about the South.

1. The friendliness. About halfway through our trip in December, Bobby said, “Do you notice how everyone looks you in the eye and says 'Hi'?” It's true. The people are incredibly warm and open. They're not too busy to acknowledge a passerby. They probably think it would be rude if they didn't say, “Hey.”

2. The manners. Speaking of being rude...in the South, people generally aren't. I know there are those who think Southerners are fake or simple-minded to be so polite. But, if you think that, you've never had a gentleman doff his cowboy hat to you and say, “Nice to meet you ma'am.” I promise you, if you did, you'd feel differently.

My husband had the chance to introduce our boys to the bull rider, LJ Jenkins, one New Year's Eve. Bobby kind of skipped over me in his introductions, excited for the boys to meet a real live bull rider. When Bobby passed me over, LJ focused his attention on me and literally tipped his cowboy hat as he shook my hand to introduce himself. And, I literally did giggle like a teenager. 

Thanks, LJ Jenkins' Facebook page!

I was newly married and in my mid-twenties when I attended my cousin's wedding in San Antonio. While the bride and groom were leaving, I was introduced to one of the groomsmen and asked if he was a friend of my cousin's from college. “Yes, ma'am,” he answered. Ughhh. I did not want to be called ma'am then, but, gotta love those Southern gentlemen.

My boys have been labeled Southern gentlemen too and I'm proud of them for that. They will stop to hold doors for others and they still say “yes, Sir”, even if it's weird up here. My son, Allen, appreciates how when you introduce yourself, down South, others shake your hand and offer their names in return. It's a pet peeve of his that this doesn't happen everywhere. Simple, yes, but makes a big difference.

3. The natural beauty. An arrogant baseball dad in Ft. Worth once asked me where we were going on an upcoming vacation. “Alabama,” I answered wistfully. “Why?” he sneered condescendingly. I sputtered something about it being beautiful and where our families live. I never can think of anything really good to say in those situations.

weather.com, Mount Cheaha

But, Alabama is beautiful. It's right there in the state motto. There are pine trees aplenty and a lushness not found in other parts of the world. There are rolling hills and red clay soil, strange and wonderful. There's an openness, not like in Montana, but open and yet still cozy; like you're being hugged by someone with a strong chest and impossibly wide shoulders, your face doesn't get smooshed, but you still feel the embrace.

4. The accents (or the way y'all talk). While working as missionaries in Austria, we were confronted with accents from many lands. English words tripped over Iranian tongues and Bosnian lips. The German words that I spoke, I'm sure, sounded crazy coming from this southern mouth. On our trip back home after 2 years, Bobby and I were sad to leave, yet giddy with excitement. We flew Delta from Vienna straight into the heart of Atlanta. There was one flight attendant who was obviously from the south. He said “y'all” without hesitation and didn't even raise an eyebrow as we stared at him with goofy smiles on our faces. We rang our “attendant call button” way too many times asking for extra cookies and a blanket and who knows what else because all we really wanted from him was more of that golden accent. It was a portent of things to come as we moved back to the South.

5. The food. Ahhh, the food. While I love the fried stuff down south, I'm not just talking about hush puppies and catfish. I also love the pimiento cheese, cornbread, grits and black-eyed peas. But, the fried chicken, oh the fried chicken. I love that there are at least 3 restaurant chains that exclusively serve fried chicken fingers with French fries and this heavenly, glorified Thousand Island sauce to dip them in.

On this trip to Alabama we found out about another restaurant chain called Chicken Salad Chick. It serves 15 different kinds of chicken salad plus deli sandwiches and, of course, pimiento cheese. The restaurant is adorable and the food is great and I don't think it would have started, much less been successful, in any other corner of the country.

But, I can't forget the sweet, iced tea; how it fills up your mouth and leaves you with a smile. On our honeymoon, my sweet husband took me to Bar Harbor, Maine. We flew in to Bangor and drove the rest of the way to Mount Desert Island. When lunchtime came on that blissful road trip, we stopped at a roadside stand for lobster rolls. I ordered “tea” with my sandwich then looked on in confusion as the proprietor filled a dainty tea cup with piping hot water and plopped a tea bag on a saucer. Bobby, who spent his summers “Down East”, noticed the error and asked for iced tea for his clueless bride. It wasn't the least bit sweet so I dumped packet after packet of sweet n low in my glass.

I'm sure there are more things I love about the South. I didn't even mention college football, steak restaurants housed in cinder block buildings and magnolia trees. But, mainly it's home. And that's what you love most about where you're from, too.

No matter where and I live, and for how long, I think I'll always be like my Aunt Sally. She claims Alabama as her home, but she's lived in Minnesota for over 40 years. She's stubbornly kept her Southern drawl and fondly recalls her roots in Beulah, AL whenever possible.

Aunt Sally and I would agree with W. Morris who said, “I am a Southerner. I like the feel of these words. I could no more be otherwise than I could shed my outer skin or change the color of my eyes.”

While I'm kind of sad I'll never have violet eyes, like Elizabeth Taylor, I'll happily trade that in for belonging to the South. I really do like the feel of those words.