I see that my blog has been linked to from Nashville is Talking and I've had several mentions in the No Silence Here, Knoxville News Sentinel blog. So I've now been recognised by media blogs from two of the three Grand Divisions of the state of Tennessee. Thanks.
I also read in haiku of the id about genderist's mixed marriage. She's from Middle Tennessee, husband is from East Tennessee. (BTW, genderist, do I know you in real life?)
It got me to thinking about my own mixed identity. See, I was born in Knoxville to a Middle Tennessee mom and an East Tennessee dad. I've lived longer in Knoxville (during several different stretches) than any place else (with London a distant second), but I went to high school in Middle Tennessee and I vote there, too. My mom's family is Middle Tennessee to way back on both sides. I guess I think of Knoxville as my spiritual home, but I reckon if I had to pick a city to live in, it would be Nashville. So, I don't know, I'm all confused. Although one thing's clear, I'm not a West Tennessean. No siree, bob. Those people are strange. Their bbq is funny.
Vol-in-Law says my "blog style" is more "East Tennessean". But what would he know, he's foreign.
In fact - here's how he got his handle. I was all excited about some Tennessee victory on one Sunday morning. I put on my Tennessee sweatshirt (the one with the hood that makes me look like a Volunteer elf) and while we were walking on Wimbledon Common I kept saying things like Go Vols, How BOUT them Vols?, and singing little bits of Rocky Top. My husband's patience was wearing a bit thin.
Me: What's the matter? Orange you a Vol?
Him: Harummph.
Me: C'mon. Orange you a Vol? ORANGE YOU a VOL?
Him: No.
Me: No, I guess not. You're just a Vol-in-Law.
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4 comments:
Vol Abroad! Of course you know me. My mother was your mother's neighbor, and they still get together. Your brother and I are about to celebrate our 10th year out of LCHS. (I sat in front of him a lot, and in 5th grade he would stab his scissors at my elbows if I leaned back on his desk.) And! My mother is really proud of her red cowboy boots that were hand-me-downs from you... It's a riddle! Go!
Lol! I can't believe you did that to your poor hubby.
I am a Nashvillian, but I wasn't born in Tennessee. I might as well have been, though. I spent the most formative years of my youth/young adulthood/adulthood there.
Now whether or not I'd consider myself a Vol, I don't know. All my friends were Vol fans. I don't watch football. So I guess, by proxy, I am a Vol.
Hey, VA, thanks for this topic. I think I'm going to rip you off over on my blog. Sorry, but I need a topic. I will, of course, cite you as the source.
BTW, who is genderist? Any idea? I realize she's too young for me to have known from LCHS. Heck, I barely remember the folks who were in MY class. Still, I'm intrigued -- especially by the red cowboy boots.
Yep, I know who she is. I'm not sure if you know her, but you'll know at least one of her parents.
The boots were a pair of red cowboy boots I had my freshman year of college and they were FLASH. I used to wear them out all the time. Unfortunately my feet continued to grow, and I couldn't wear them after say Junior year. But I loved them so much I couldn't get rid of them. But when my graddad died, I had to get rid of a bunch of my stuff stored at his house and they went into the yard sale. Genderist's mom came by to help us out, she admired the boots and I gave them to her. She offered to pay, but I told her I'd rather see the boots go to a good home.
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