All the Sweetest Winds, They Blow Across the South

I love me some North Carolina. It's the perfect mix of empathetic, concerned folks who are crazy--very much like your 123V, here.

Spending time there always makes me re-prioritize the important things in my life, which usually end up being: tanning, frozen yogurt and videos, because that's all the side stores in NC offer.

I could bore you with tales of my darling nephews and their antics on bumper cars, or my sweet niece who eats broccoli like it's going out of style, but I won't because they're all going to take over the world one day, and you'll get to know them through their Nobel prize acceptance speeches.

But, let's see, what's the haps, otherwise?

No meetings with the crazy ex-girlfriend; exactly one PG-rated meeting with the high school ex-boyfriend that left me wanting to slow dance to some Cyndi Lauper; and, dude, one awesome meeting with J from Drunk on the Porch.

There was good ink (high-five, J), great conversation and beer. Oh, and there was phenomenal pizza. I'm already looking ahead to the next meet-up where J and I can compare more small-town nuttiness.

Until then, I'm only left regretting the poor Catawba County Shriners. Oh, the Shriners--they had them a tough year.

My folks and I went to the town's "holiday parade" this weekend. Beyond the Shriners, it was pretty much just the town's police and fire squad, so we prayed to Heyzus that no one had an emergency while the cops were throwing out some Brach's hard candies to the kidders.

While my folks and I had a great time, the Shriners were having a rough go. The Go-Kart AAA had to come out several times to help the guys driving little cars, as chains were a-breaking and tires were a-blowing and little Go-Karts were a-stalling all over God's concrete.

Whoops!


Yep, just a good, ole time in Carolina, complete with big men driving tiny semi-trucks.



Even the dawgs was excited, bless they hearts.

Millie is our little "root beer barrel." She's always been kind of crotchety and mean, but those ears and stubby legs save us from getting upset with her every time.



Sadie Byrd: She has a tiny head and a tiny, tiny brain.


Yes, Mills, it IS time for goodnight. (She did this herself, I swear to Pete. She's not a terribly sociable soul.)

In the Comments section, tell me why you love your family and/or your home town.