My Virginia

Nestled at the very Southern end of what is called "Northern Virginia"- a region known for its suburban strip malls, rows of houses that all look the same, and disgruntled governmental employees, lies the small city of Fredericksburg. This town with its rich history in both the War Between The States as well as the  American Revolution, is a hidden gem for tourists.  While it boasts Mary Washington college, historic sites and connections to George Washington, many weary 1-95 travelers use Fredericksburg as a stop over between New York and Florida. In years past, Fredericksburg was largely disconnected from the bustle of the Northern Virginia region. In more recent years , however, it has  become a bedroom community for Washington D.C. commuters. With its advantageous geographic location,  many people working in Washington  choose to live in the Fredericksburg area  to get more affordable  housing outside the expensive suburbs. Some may even ref...

Virginia is located at the very northern tip of the South- or the Southern end of the Mid-Atlantic region, whichever way you look at it. We Virginians are Northern-Southerners. Because of this, Virginia is in a unique position. Her cultural identity was firmly rooted in the Old South, but  with the advent of the jet plane, Virginia is at New York's doorstep! Northern Virginia, close to Washington D.C., is a melting pot of people from all nations and all backgrounds. Spreading out as far as Winchester to the west, and stemming from Fairfax and Loudoun County to the East, and as far south as Fredericksburg. This area with its transient feel, represents a culture far removed from Old Virginia, despite having its old roots left in the plantation homes and historic markers and schools named after Confederate Generals. This is also the most liberal area of Virginia, and pushed Virginia into a "blue state" during both the 2008 and 2012 elections, although by a narrow margin. ...

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...