Can’t F**k With The South

So I’m a Midwest ride or die girl. I still rep the state of Michigan and the home teams til the bitter end. I have lived in 8 cities and still – Detroit vs Everybody. HOWEVER, in my 38 years, 12.5 of those have been in the South (if you are curious, 23.5 in the Midwest (I worked in Cinci after college), 2 in the West). If you go back to my roots, my mom’s side of the family is from Alabama and my dad’s side of the family is from Mississippi so I guess it’s only natural that I got love for the south and feel comfortable (somewhat) down here. Add in the pretty good weather, decent cost of living, music that comes out of these states, closeness to the water (y’all know I love water) and culture and opportunity in places like my current home of Atlanta and I’m sold on staying below the Mason Dixon line 😏.

I’ve dabbled with the thought of taking my talents to places like Chicago, The DMV, Charlotte, even back home to the D, but for the most part I’ve always looked to stay in places like ATL, Houston, Dallas, even the M I A baby lol. I guess once your blood thins out it’s pretty much a wrap for wanting to deal with the foolishness that is snow and ice. I mean I love the fact that they will shut this place down the minute that white precipitation falls from the sky. I have no problems staying cozy in my humble abode when the snow starts to fall, especially when places like the northeast be out here getting 2 and 3 feet – nah, y’all can have that at this point.

I remember going on the Black College Tour back in High School and getting down to all the schools (they were all in the south) and coming to the realization that the weather was as beautiful as it was YEAR ROUND! I was like - SOLD! I ain’t gonna lie, it was definitely a key selling point in my decision to take my talents to the highest of 7 hills in Tallahassee at FAMU. Not THE selling point (the 5 yr MBA program in SBI was), but definitely a key one ;-). It was just something about the bands or DJ’s hitting those songs with that Miami Bass or Cash Money taking over for the ’99 and the 2000. Not to mention the rapping homies from the ATL.

It's funny, but I seem to keep coming across guys who are true southern boys and want NO parts of anywhere else, much less the north. I had one boo back in the day tell me he wouldn’t come visit me in Michigan cause it was an “icebox” 😧. Just recently as last week, another guy I’ve recently been getting to know told me he gave up his football scholarship after his freshman year to a Michigan school because it was too cold and the coach lied to him and told him it wouldn’t start snowing until after football season (facepalm) – I busted out laughing at the okey doke he got hit with for that one. But for real, I was like “seriously dude?”. I’m all for being comfortable with where you are and loving where you are from, but there definitely comes a time when a person has to be able to spread their wings and step out of their comfort zone. You can’t really grow if you never go outside of what you know or where you are planted. I was always an independent girl who handled my business but I did my most growing when I moved 5 states and 16 hours away from my mother to go to college at 18. I had to put on my big girl panties and continue to grow up and handle business without the safety net of Mama or anyone else being right there to help me or wake me up or make sure I was doing what I was supposed to do (not that she was expected to do that at that age anyway). When I have children, I will definitely make it point to make sure their world is expanded from the beginning, ain’t gonna be no, I’m over 18 and have never been on a plane, or out of the city or state, I’m team #HaveBabyWillTravel . I love that my friend’s babies have passports and some of them have as many stamps as I do. Listen, I truly believe that if you can spend $200 on a pair of shoes or an outfit, you can definitely spend $110 on a passport. It’s about priorities and expanding your mind and broadening your horizons. Get out there and go!

Now while I love living in the south and don’t see that changing anytime soon (unless I decide to move out of the country), don’t be fooled by the title, my heart stays in the Midwest. I’ll leave you with the words of my fellow Midwestern brotha Nelly, from his collabo “Tryna Get A Number” with another Midwestern brotha who shall not be named cause he got issues but is the King of R&B.

                “And I don’t give a f*ck who else in town,

                Midwest come through shut this b*tch down”   

Word.🙌

Y’all know a sista be on the move so if between now and November you are in Houston (twice), Chicago, Cartagena Colombia, Memphis, New York, Tallahassee, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Seattle or New Orleans and you see me in the streets, Holla at ya girl.

Enjoy these songs that take you on a journey through some of the spots I’ve lived – cause I’m extra like that 😉.

Peace.