Southern in the City and The D.C. Ladies

A recent column in The Washington Post questioned whether or not D.C. is losing its "Southerness".  The beauty of this Capitol City is that it isn't just Southern. Because so few of us are actually from the District, because people come and go here as quickly as a political scandal, there is always a melting pot of cultures.

D.C. will always be an international city. D.C., desipte its East Coast placing, will always hint at the ways of the West. And, like those of us who move from Dixie to the District, D.C. will always be Southern.

I moved to Washington from Tennessee, and it didn't take me long to hear the secret langage - twang - that we Southerners can pick up like a dog to a whistle when we're transplanted from our native land, even in voices that have long since lost an accent. Like many people who live inside the District, I flew my state flag at my Capitol Hill home because I'm obnoxious proud like that. 

Nearly all the new friends I made were Southern. Nearly all the social events I attened had some Southern flair.  Though quickly I came to love the urban ways of living here that are so very different from the life I knew in Knoxville, ten years (and one move north to the Maryland 'burbs) later,  I still reconnect pretty regulary with my roots. And I still think DC holds plenty of Southern charm.

I'm excited to share that I've become a guest blogger for The D.C. Ladies. My first post about my favorite Southern town up this way is featured today, and you can read it here.


Whistlin' Dixie for the DC Ladies, I will be writing about "all things South'un."  I look forward to sharing with readers how even in the world's most powerful city one can quickly trade monuments for mountains, foie gras for grits, and Diplomats for down home Southerners.