Not Born or Bred in the South

This blog is a compilation of experiences and observations associated with living in general, and living in the South in particular. Some may find it more of an outlet for my most current "rant." My soapbox has deep grooves in it from lecturing to my family and friends, so I've decided to expand my audience.

This weekend I spent the day with my mom, who was born and bred in England. We went shopping (chez Wallez--the "uptown" name for a Wal-Mart superstore), and we went to a local cafe for a snack. As luck would have it, my mother uttered those dreaded words--"Do you have hot tea?" This sends chills down my spine and immediately causes goosebumps to rise on my arms because I know if there is no affirmative response, she will say, "Well, do you have hot water???"

As you may have heard, in the South "sweet tea" is considered a food group. People do not enter a restaurant and ask for a glass of "iced tea;" no, they come in and simply say "sweet tea." Needless to say, a request for "hot tea" is a little out of the ordinary, and has been met with a variety of reactions and results. I told my mother "please be good, no matter what happens." She smiled and waited. As luck would have it, as the waitress headed for the kitchen, she turned and smiled and asked, "Hon, do you want that hot tea sweet?" I repeated my urging "be good." Our waitress emerges a moment later, carrying a cup of hot liquid. But,

There was no string
There was no tag
On top there floated no little bag

What we received was tea taken from the iced tea pitcher and placed in the microwave oven; hence, producing "hot tea." But, saints be praised, it was not "sweet tea."