This was originally posted by tnt moms on the community forum.
YAAAAY!! We're all packed too! Decided at the last minute to throw in a denim jacket. I've acclimated to south Florida and 55 is chilly to me.
OK, OK, I have my mother's middle name and while I love sharing that with her, it's the southern "meter" of name flow that has always bugged me. My family is from south Georgia where all vowels are elongated thus turning one syllable words into two and if there is a choice in pronouncing a vowel, it will be the long sound. In the deep south, we prefer stretching our vowels and foregoing our consonants as often as possible. Thus I grew up hearing "KAYREN JEEEANNE" "You come own home naow. It's gittin' dahk an' it's tiiime foah suppah. Ah doan wahnt it gittin' coald foah yoah Daddy!"
So there you are, it's Karen Jeanne. And you know what? If Marcie isn't looking and I actually get a 4th cocktail, that's about how I start sounding. Mind you, I'm a proud southern woman and I fight stereotypes due to my accent. Wouldn't trade away my upbringing or heritage for anything, but, lordy, I still hear her in my head, the messages she would leave, still leaves on my voice mail: "KAYREN" (shouting you understand so her voice can be heard from Darien, GA) "Thiis is yoauh Mama" (Mom, believe me, I knew that by the five second hesitation before you started talking so loudly.) "Yoauh Daddy needs you ta caall heum." (Riiight, Mama) Then she spits out, "Ah love you. You caaull rot baaick, 'K. Bah." I love you, Mama, sweet Evelyn Jeanne.