September 12, 2023 – Muscle Shoals, Alabama
If you are lucky enough to live near the beach, you are lucky enough. – Anon
This line from Driving Miss Daisy occurred to me today.
Hoke is driving Miss Daisy to Mobile, Alabama:
Hoke Colburn: Did I ever tell you about the first time I ever been outside the state of Georgia?
Daisy Werthan: No, when was that?
Hoke Colburn: Oh, a few minutes ago.
Our waitress at a seafood restaurant in Muscle Shoals asked us where we were from. Leslie got quite excited when we told her we were visiting from Canada:
Leslie: Canada! I ain’t never met nobody from Canada. Fact, I never been outside the border of Alabama.
Later…
Leslie: Y’all drive safe back to Canada, or however yur gonna git there…
I wish I’d had a Looney or a Tooney to add to Leslie’s tip. This sorry little Canadian flag is the best I could do.
Leslie isn’t alone among Alabamans who don’t travel, only 25% of state residents hold a valid U.S. passport. By contrast, 70% of Canadians have passports.
But Alabamans are gadabouts compared to Mississippi residents, where passports are held by only 19.86% of the population.
Prior to 2007, when passports became mandatory for travel to Canada and Mexico, less than 10% of Alabamans or Mississippians could travel internationally.
I have no idea how you are supposed to interpret this information – I am just putting it out there.
Until we visited Elvis Presley’s birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi this week, I was unaware that he had a twin brother. Elvis carried lifelong guilt about the fact that he lived, while stillborn Jesse Garon Presley did not.
Bronze likeness of Elvis Aaron Presley at 11.
It was a tradition in the South to give twins rhyming middle names.
I understand the importance of faith to Americans, but I was unprepared for the power of religious fervour in the South.
There are churches on every corner, and they aren’t idle. Some house small congregations, while others host gatherings of thousands. Football stadiums have been retrofitted and converted to accommodate mass worship in some large cities in the South.
Crosses are everywhere, with an apparent competition going on, to see who can erect the biggest.
“Have a Blessed Day” has become the farewell of choice at shops and restaurants.
In Tupelo, Christianity is being practiced in a uniquely American way, as witnessed by this drive-through prayer kiosk. The building has been designed so that anyone seeking Divine interaction can drive up on either side, roll down their window, and have a moment of introspection or prayer.
A large wooden cross is imbedded in the wall where the ice-cream vendor should be.
God Bless America.
Judy Darvill
“There are churches on every corner” Kind of makes me think of Gravelbourg! Can’t say I recall how populated Arcola is with churches but small town Canadian cities especially seem to have more than their share. There are many lessons to be learned when visiting the USA from Canada. Our oldest had to learn about “sweet tea” as opposed to “ice tea”! Lol I especially like your waitress’ wish of “Y’all drive safe back to Canada, or however yur gonna git there..” I’d be interested in hearing some of her ideas!
Russ Paton
Yes, that “sweet tea” vs “iced” is a thing. I could listen to that accent all day! It is almost like singing. Lots of fun, lots of comparisons to make. Loved it.