A FALL SATURDAY IN THE SOUTH

 It is Saturday afternoon in the South in late August through Thanksgiving and all is quiet.  All you can hear is the sound of a football game on the TV, an occasional loud yell, a shushing sound, and of course eating and drinking.  It is time for SEC football and the whole south is watching on TV, listening on the radio, or if lucky enough to be sitting in the stadium of their favorite school.  Football reigns in the south and of course it has to be the SEC. 

You don’t have to be a graduate or alumni of the school of your choice, but you have to choose your football team by the 1st grade.  In Alabama, it is Alabama or Auburn - Roll Tide or War Eagle.  Georgia is UGA or Georgia Tech, Mississippi is State or Old Miss and the roll call goes on for each Southern state. 

You may move to another state but you stay loyal to your school choice.  It’s like I told someone recently, “You can take the girl out of Alabama but you can’t take Roll Tide out of the girl”. It  is a lifelong choice. Anytime I see an Alabama hat or shirt, I just say “Roll Tide” and you always get one back with a smile.  That tot.al stranger is now a friend!!

I have greeted people with “ Roll Tide” in international airports, cruise ships, and foreign countries and always get it back with a smile.  Instant friends!!  I love it for “we” are everywhere.

This is not true just for Alabama but also any SEC team.  You can say “War Eagle”, “Go Dogs”, or any SEC school and find kindred spirits. Football in the South is a long-standing and proud tradition which  we treasure and will defend.

Husbands and wives in a household split by rival teams, will not talk much when their team is playing each other. If you hear Roll Tide and Go Dogs in the same house, there will be instant silence.  It’s best on those days to watch  the game on separate TVs in different rooms.  Tempers can flare a little and I have learned not to brag too much when Roll Tide wins.  

Win or lose, we remain loyal to our team and it can last for generations.  We teach our “little ones” to say Roll Tide when they begin to talk.  It is a big deal in the South so if you happen to move into our neck of the woods, just get used to it, for we stop the world to watch or listen to our team play football.  If this is not your game, you might want to just go fishing or shopping.  

Football is my game but only if it is SEC!!

 

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Our "Selfie" Culture

Having spent several days in St. Augustine, much of that on the beach, I have been surprised how many people spend a large amount of time taking pictures of themselves.  It seems to be an epidemic of people who want to take pictures of their faces and bodies.  They spend half their time looking at their phone camera and posing.  

I assume they are taking these pictures to post on social media for people to admire and post complimentary comments.  After watching 1 in particular yesterday, she was going to have a whole page of "selfies" of her in a florescent green bathing suit and cover-up.  Because the cover-up was very sheer, it didn't cover much!  She ignored her family and just walked and took pictures  of herself.  

What a shame for she was standing on a beautiful beach with  sun  glinting off the waves as they crested and rolled in.  The sun was shining and the wind was blowing a cool breeze which made a perfect beach day to enjoy with a family and friends.  Her little boy and husband had a great time and she missed it all taking pictures of herself.  

Several people were doing the same thing and wasting a great day to enjoy the ocean and friends, the sun and cool breeze.  It seems it is a need to validate who they are and that everyone thinks they are beautiful.  How sad, for out self-worth comes from the inside not the outside facade.  

I have friends who post new pictures of themselves many days a week and most have been altered with photo software to look different than the real person.  Wonder what they are needing from their friends to make them feel secure and happy?  Most are beautiful people, loved and appreciated and I hope they will know that we love and like them. 

This has created a "me" society that can be selfish and everything is about me and mine.  Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 3:

3Do not let your adorning be external — the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear — 4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God 's sight is very precious.

My mama used to tell me when I  was impressed with my looks, "Pretty is as pretty does."  End of discussion as far as she was concerned.  She often told us that the looks on the outside are temporary but what we are in the heart is permanent.  This good advice is for everyone. She was a wise lady. 

I know it is whistling in the wind, but I sure hope my friends who are obsessing with selfies, will know that we love then not for their looks but who they are.  Love ya'll.

The Georgia Peach writing again