Reflections on the South

Just got back from a trip to Wilmington, NC to visit the grandchildren, and I had a few thoughts about how different things are south of the Mason-Dixon line. Of course Wilmington is not truly indicative of the South because most of the people you meet aren't from there, they started their lives somewhere else. Not quite like Florida though where everyone is from where you're from. North Carolina is a lot different from the deep South, like Alabama.

There's a certain relaxed quality of life down there. People aren't in as much of a hurry as they are in the North. You realize this when you talk to someone. They'll take the time to tell you their whole life story, and they'll take the time to listen to yours. I mean really listen. I watched a few people talking, not really listening to the conversation, but rather how they talked. I wasn't being nosy, I just wanted to be able to properly depict people in conversation for the next book.

You also realize this slower pace at a restaurant too. Quite often fast food is just food. We hit two MacDonalds on the trip where they took forever to produce a couple of hamburgers. Sit-down restaurants were often faster.

This slower pace doesn't apply to driving though, unless it's a Maryland driver on I-95 who passes you, then drives alongside of you for the next thirty-five miles pacing you and tying up the passing lane. Or the driver who cuts in and out of traffic, darting from lane to lane only to be blocked by that Maryland driver.

There are churches everywhere too, and more Christian radio stations than any other. You can tell you're in the Bible Belt. Many businesses have bible quotes on their logos as well, one burger place has John 3:16 on their wrappers. They don't seem to be as worried about offending someone about their beliefs as the Northeast.

We looked at food prices and Teresa said the they seem to be higher than home, but restaurant prices are lower. It seemed to be cheaper to eat out than to eat in in some cases. Case in point, a six dollar, all-you-can-eat BBQ. I wonder how they do it, but maybe you can't eat that much. There are restaurants everywhere, and every kind you could ask for. Of course, Wilmington is a place where people go for vacation.

Overall, the pace and lifestyle are more relaxed, yet more formal in some ways. Children say "yes Sir" or "yes Ma'am" and they call you Mr. Chris. It's refreshing.