Hot Water Cornbread

Today, at around noon I realized that I missed a call from a random Atlanta number. I generally don't answer or call back numbers that I don't know but I was curious and to be quite honest, I had time. I called the number back and it rang one and a half times before a sweet old lady answered the phone. I said "Hello, did somebody call this number?" and without hesitation she said "I'm so sorry sweetheart, I was trying to reach my grand baby." She sounded like a nana, a gammy and a mimaw all in one. The type of nana that has a bowl of Werther's originals on her coffee table. The type of gammy that sleeps in silk pajamas and keeps moth balls in the closet. The type of mimaw that rubs your ears until you fall asleep in her lap. I felt compelled to help her find her grand baby. I asked her what number she dialed and quickly realized that she meant to press four instead of five. In the mist of this game of detective we exchanged names (her name was Renee) and began to talk about the weather. Supposedly it's been rainy in Atlanta. As we prepared to say our goodbye she said "God bless you, baby" my heart melted. When I got off the phone with Renee I realized two things: Southerners are quite possibly the nicest folks on the planet and secondly, It's time to go home to get some soul food.

When I say soul food I don't necessarily mean a meal. I mean everything about the South. I miss running to the mailbox shoeless. I miss going to Publix for what is considered to be "high dollar food". I miss going to the neighborhood park for a run. I miss really getting to know your neighbors but most importantly I miss people actually coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. There is a beautiful simplicity that comes with being southern. My greatest fear is that I will get so adapted to the culture out here that I will stop saying things like bless you, thank you and you're welcome.

I do indeed love LA but I think much could be learned about etiquette. At times I feel as though people are so uptight that they forget to smile and embrace one another genuinely. The energy in the South is very family oriented. Everyone says hello and when you go anywhere its literally like a Cheers episode. Today and everyday forth I will be more appreciative of my stomping grounds because Lord knows I complained about it while I was living there.

My little conversation with a stranger today was truly the deciding factor that it's time to go home for a visit. It's time to move slower, relax, get bitten by several mosquitos, give long lingering hugs and eat some hot water cornbread. It's time, it's time, it's time!!!