Where do I even begin?
I have such an interesting relationship with "The South." My roots are in Texas (which is Southwestern, not the traditional south), and I've lived in Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri (where I consider my home), and now I currently live in Mississippi. I'm about to move back to Missouri. Having lived in Mississippi for ten years, shouldn't I be super attached to the deep south? Shouldn't it have rubbed off on me? Shouldn't I be in love with it and not want to leave?
Let me back up.
I've always had a fondness for the South, in the sense that it's known to be genuine, hospitable, laid-back, and in the olden days, it was the scene of many a Gone-With-The-Wind barbeque. The dresses and homes didn't hurt either. All in all, when I wasn't living here, I related to the Southern way of life and had a fondness for it from afar.
Then we moved to Jackson in 2000. And to avoid sounding snarky, I'm going to keep this very brief: It wasn't the South I thought it would be. It just wasn't. And isn't. PLEASE do not get me wrong: I've met some of the sweetest people here. And I don't think they are fake or putting on a show! But Jackson as a whole is not where I feel at home.
I won't elaborate much more on this, because I don't want to sound insulting to the people that live here and love it. Everyone is entitled to love their city, and I understand that many Southerners couldn't imagine living anywhere else. It's just not for me. But that's okay! Missouri isn't for everyone, either!
I first figured this out when Kurt and I were dating. He was (and is) a Southern boy, having been born and raised here, but I couldn't figure out what was different about him. And then he said this to me : "Maybe you dislike the deep South because Jackson is all you've ever known." It dawned on me that he was right.
And that brings me to our Natchez trip. I won't save my big "epiphany post" for last. I'll share it right now. I confirmed on this trip that:
-The Civil War was about more than slavery. I believe slavery is an abomination, but I also believe in small government. Like anything today, conflicts are complex.
-The South, like any other part of the country, has its ups and downs and pros and cons.
-Nowhere else will you find women and men who still dress in antebellum attire to take you back to the romantic days of the past.
-Genuine people really do exist in the South.
-Jackson is an entity unto itself, and not all Southern towns are like it.
-There is an elegance in Southern nature that I admire.
Now.
In this series, I am going to share with you the pictures and stories of the homes we saw, some of which broke my heart and some of which made me proud that I can claim the South as my home for ten years. I'm also going to share how after seeing and experiencing Natchez, it made me buy Magnolia room spray and confirmed my desire to give a proper brunch.
I most realized on this trip that when it comes to the South, we should honor and learn from the past, and preserve the things we love for the future (be it the beautiful homes, the elegance in entertaining, or the easy-going nature).
For the record, I always knew that there were things about the South I loved. I just had a hard time reconciling that I wasn't "from" here, and didn't feel quite at home. And there have been things that I just don't agree with in this Southern culture. But I've realized the perfect combination : I'm taking the things I do like from the South "home" to Missouri! :) Best of both worlds!
Here's the celebrating and honoring the people who lived, worked, and stayed at all costs in the South, even when the conditions were horrible. Here's to celebrating manners, elegance, and class. Here's to celebrating beautiful homes, architecture, and style. I'm excited to share these things with you!
By the way, I'm going to put this button in my sidebar, so if you want to read all of the South Series posts, you can just click on it. Hopefully that should make it easy!
