My Virginia

Proper Southerners know how to say and do things a certain way. Many Northerners are puzzled by some of our customs. Being from Northern Virginia (which is technically, indeed, the South), I am aware of many of the nuances that Southern folk know and, frankly, unless you grow up South of the Mason Dixon line, many will seem foreign to you! A Proper Southerner Knows: -How To Address A Group of People. Acceptable greetings are: Y'all, You-All, You Folks. But never say "You Guys", unless it is actually a group of "guys". Northerners bemoan our use of y'all and how provincial it sounds, never stopping to think how absurd we think it is when they call a female group of people "You Guys" and never blink an eye! Y'all is always plural, unless you are speaking to one person who is representing a group. For example you ask the store clerk "Where do y'all keep the butter beans?" You mean not just the store clerk, but the store in general. T

This is framed and hangs on our parlor wall: "To be a Virginian, whether by birth or adoption, and especially on one's mother's side, is a passport to any state in the Union, and a benediction from above". My mother's family has been in Virginia since the 1600s. They came to the Richmond area soon as it was discovered. I also have ancestors in other southern states, but Virginia by far, is my most beloved. I have traveled to many places, but there's no other place that can compare to the Commonwealth. Ironically, the Virginia we know of today, is not how it has always been. Our brothers in West Virginia , Kentucky, and Tennessee, were part of us. As was Ohio, and the whole western half of the country above the Louisiana Purchase. What an incredible history we have here.

If you ever want to take a trip to God's Country, this is the place ! The Shenandoah is an Indian name meaning "Daughter of the Stars". The Valley is situated on a level and fertile ground and lies in between two mountain ranges. The Blue Ridge Mountains to the East, and the Appalachian Mountains to the West. The Shenandoah Valley was noted as "The Breadbasket Of The Confederacy" because of its market towns and many farms that dotted the landscape. It stretches approximately 180 miles going Southwest from Winchester to Roanoke, but the valley actually starts in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia at the crevice of the Potomac and Shenandoah River. The Shenandoah Valley's elevation climbs upward as you move South, so the Northern Shenandoah Valley is actually referred to as the lower part of the valley, and the Southern end is the Upper Part of the Valley. The Shenandoah Valley was a prime location during the War Between The States, and places such as

Anove: Me at the Jeff Davis statue in Hollywood Cemetery, 1984. I was not born in Richmond, but I remember my early visits as a very young child going to see my grandmother in her apartment on Park Ave in The Fan. When we'd visit, she'd make us all some Ring Tum Diddy and we'd have Custard ice cream for dessert made by "Richfood". I remember the sights and smells of Richmond. Mostly magnolias and crepe myrtle drenched in heat and humidity, and large statues of heroes from the past with large white columned mansions on an elegant thoroughfare. The vibe of Richmond was that you were so immersed in the Confederacy. No other city was like it. It was so distinctive, so very Richmond. You can't really put your finger on what makes Richmond so Richmond. You can go to Charleston, Savannah, or newer cities such as Nashville , Charlotte, and Atlanta. None of them has such a a distinctiveness as Richmond does. I don't think any other Southern city has such a mystique

When I joined the Sons of Confederate Veterans, it was hard to choose which ancestor to use, for I have so many. But I chose John Campbell Hagan of Richmond, who owned a grocery store on Venable Street. He was moved by a speech at St. Paul's Church that the Reverend gave in favor of Virginia and the South defending their homes. So, just a little after April 1861, he joined the Confederate Army and served in the 10th Battalion. While many of my ancestors did have servants and slaves, I think they were not even considering that when defending their right for States of Independence. The War of Northern Aggression left a mark on all of Southern Soil, but most notably Virginia. For it was in Virginia where most all the battles during the entire campaign took place. It is so very much a part of our history and pride. The flag to me is not a symbol of hate, but to honor our ancestors who so bravely fought for their noble cause. And justly doing so, as it is part of our American Constitu

In 1997, politically correct politics got into one of the finest tunes ever written. Written by a black man himself, the song was considered "racist", and "inappropriate" for Virginia. However, to me, it is and ALWAYS WILL BE her state song. Its a beautiful tune , sung in the old Southern folk tradition- a song mostly heard at minstrel shows. I have heard many songs pitched about Virginia in recent years. Frankly, they all fall short. Only Tom T. Hall's song can come close to the original spirit of this song. Here it is: Carry me back to old Virginny. There's where the cotton and corn and taters grow. There's where the birds warble sweet in the spring-time. There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go. There's where I labored so hard for old Massa, Day after day in the field of yellow corn; No place on earth do I love more sincerely Than old Virginny, the state where I was born. Carry me back to old Virginny. There's where th

Virginia Beach is a wonderful destination. Centrally located on the East Coast- and just far enough South to get those wonderful Palm trees! Its one of my favorite "get away" spots, and whenever I go, there's always lots of great seafood and fun. Some of the best seafood you can get is at Virginia Beach. My personal favorite restaurant is Rudee's on the Inlet. Their soft shelled crab sandwiches are delicious. The Cavalier Hotel is a great place visit as well. It has the grand feeling of the 1920s Era. You may want to do the Charleston right on the beach!

Loudoun County situated at the Northern tip of Virginia, has been almost fully engulfed by the premises of Washington, D.C. However, there still remains pockets of its "Old South" history- and rolling hills, and beautiful landscapes, and "hunt country" towns, still dominate the area. I grew up in Loudoun County, and being so close to the DC suburban region, was mostly unaware that all these beautiful Manor homes still existed. I was aware of Oatlands, near where I went to church, and a few other places, but that was about it. I have over time, discovered a treasure trove of these wonderful places. Granted, its just a smattering, but I am truly grateful these old Plantations have been preserved and restored to their former glory. For many in search of the Old South, Loudoun County, is truly the gateway. Loudoun County is the Northern Edge of Virginia, and the Northern edge of Dixie, but it has some of the most quintessentially Southern homes one could ever find to

INTRODUCTION: My Virginia. The Oldest state in Dixie. The true Gateway to the South. Virginia is situated at the very Southern tip of the Mid-Atlantic region. However, it is culturally, historically, econonmically, and temperately, a Southern state. Perhaps the most coveted of all Southern states. The Deep South envies Virginia. Our fine old families, and genteel way of living, that many try to emulate. Yet it also welcomes Virginia to her bosom as well. Virginia is the mother of presidents. Home to Patsy Cline, Robert E. Lee, JEB Stuart, The Carter Family, and many more. Virginia, (Not Tennessee), is also the birthplace of Country Music. Virginia to me is graceful, endearing, and full of wonder. On the 8th day God created Virginia- and He discovered Paradise! I am proud to be a Virginian. I realize so much that the state I call home, is a state of flux. Virginia is changing. And not necessarily for the good. Northern Virginia- an area once full of Southern charm, now belongs to Washin