By Paula Mitchell
The southern culture, or southern heritage is a sub-culture of the United States. The South (which West Virginia is also included) developed its own unique customs, arts, dance, music, cuisine, dialects, and literature. The combination of its own unique history and the fact that they have kept their own identity separate from the rest of the country has led to the most studied and written about region of the United States.
Religion plays a big part of one’s life. Actually, this southern culture is known as the Bible Belt. There are hundreds of biblical names that can be found in practically every state in the south…Jerusalem, Gethsemane, Canaan, Mt. Carmel, Mt. Zion, Bethel, Sardis, Ararat, Ninevah, Antioch, Samaria, Shiloh, Bethany, Hebron, Zion, Calvary, Damascus, Macedonia, Boaz, Joppa, Palestine, Mt Olive, and Ephesus.
There are even specifically to the point place names: Preachersville, Kentucky; Temperanceville, Virginia; Bible Hill, Tennessee; Religion, Mississippi; Churchtown, Tennessee; Baptismal, Alabama; Olive Branch, North Carolina; Church Point, Louisianna; Benevolence, Georgia; Hopeful, Georgia; Hymnal, North Carolina; New Hope, Georgia; Bliss, Kentucky; Providence, Arizona; Beulaville, North Carolina; Beersheba Springs, Tennessee; and Hell For Certain, Kentucky.
The most often heard hymns in the south are “Amazing Grace,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Are You Washed in the Blood?,” “Nothing But the Blood,” “Softly and Tenderly,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Sweet By and By,” “I Surrender All,” “Bringing in the Sheaves,” “Trust and Obey,” and the longest most feared hymn, “Just as I Am.”
Living in the south is not too shabby!
Life’s daily lessons to abide by include the following:
- Avoid unnecessary meetings.
- Give hugs.
- Use the right tools.
- Avoid junk food.
- Call a friend.
The “putt-putt” of the tractors in the hay fields is a change from sound of the “buzz” of the lawn mowers. Lots of hay has been baled for the winter feedings. Hummingbirds are enjoying their sugar water, whilst the whippoorwills are busy singing their melodious calls.
The next full moon will be in July, and it is called the Buck Moon. The native American Algonquin people named it this as it refers to the new antlers that are growing rapidly on male deer (bucks) at this time of the year.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“Politics is the only profession where you can lie, cheat, and steal, and still be respected.” — Mark Twain
“Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.” — Colonel David Hackworth
“In complete darkness, we are all the same; it is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us.” — Janet Jackson
“The life in front of you is far more important than the life behind you.” — Joel Esteen
“Adolescence is just one big walking pimple.” — Carol Burnette
“Simple rule in life: If you wouldn’t like it done to you, don’t do it to others.” — Denzil Washington
Sitting inside by the air conditioner is a good place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger has returned home following some time at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
The Mitchell reunion was held this past Sunday at the New Market Park in Virginia.
The county senior citizens took a bus trip to Cass this past week. Enjoying the trip from this community were Rose Brackman, Evelyn Varner, and Judy Rader. They rode the train to the Whittaker Station where they all enjoyed a picnic lunch before returning home.
Brenda Fisher accompanied Robby, Linnea, Logan, and Michael Fisher to worship after which they enjoyed a Father’s Day meal. Brenda says she will have a cucumber from her garden by the end of the week!
This past Tuesday, Evelyn Varner and Wanda Pitsenbarger motored to Staunton, Virginia, to visit Wanda’s sister, Cleo Simmons. Then, on Sunday, the two visited with Virginia Hedrick of Franklin.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers for the week are as follows:
- The Basenji, an African wolf dog, does not bark in a normal way but may yodel or scream when excited.
- Crocodiles cannot stick out their tongue.
- The oldest university in the English-speaking world, the University of Oxford, was founded in the 12th century.
- The ancient Egyptians were pioneers in various fields of medicine, performing surgery and developing treatments for various diseases.
- Western Australia is home to what is believed to be the oldest evidence of life on Earth, the Stromatolites.
Concerns for this week are Bob Adamson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, the Charles Bates family, Richard Bennett, the Ed Bodkin family, “Bo” Boggs, Elsie Bowers, Marie Cole, Steve Conrad, Christian Dasher, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Gary Harman, Marlene Harman, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Grace Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Alma Harper, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adalbert Hoover, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, the Lois Huffman family, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, Ginger Knight, Tracie Knight, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Wanda Pitsenbarger, Andy Pond, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Stanley Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Charles Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Mike Roberts, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Greg Simmons, Phyllis Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Elizabeth Terry, Rosa Tichenor, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Raymond Varner, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Rene White, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer, Margaret Wimer, the people of Ukraine, Israel, Pakistan, and avalanche victims of Papua New Guinea.