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Getting My Texan OnPosted at Sep 28, 2012 10:18 am When my kids were little, there was one sure way to tell if my patience was drawing to an end: my voice would start to change. Little by little, my ‘r’s would get a little softer, my vowels a little longer, my grammar a little worse. A drawl would come out, and I’d start spouting things like ‘fixing to’. As in, ‘I’m fixin’ to ground y’all, so you’d better settle on down.’ That change would cause my two kids to look at each other and grimace. No, I wasn’t suffering from some kind of personality disorder. I was just getting my Texan on. I grew up in Houston, and by the time I got out of high school, I had a pretty good accent, though I didn’t realize it at the time. I only discovered I had an accent of note when I went out to Colorado for college. Clue Number 1 was when my roommate would ask me to talk to her friends on the phone-just so they could hear what I sounded like. Clue Number 2 came from one of my college professors. I was an education major, and one of my first classes was to prepare a short speech and give it in front of the class. We’d all be videotaped, and then be forced to watch ourselves during a private meeting with our professor. That, of course, scared me to death, and my first speech was even more chocked-full of Texan-isms than usual. My accent was so thick, my professor suggested that I consider getting a new major. He didn’t see how any child was going to learn much listening to a voice like mine. After that, ah, horrible experience, I made it my goal to lose that accent. And for the most part, I have. Now, living in Ohio, I can almost sound like a northerner. Almost. Except when I’m really happy. Or really tired. Or really cranky. Or really _____ (just about anything can be put in that blank!). Then, like bluebonnets in spring, that accent comes back with a vengeance. Nowadays, I kind of greet my old twang like a good, long-lost friend. Hearing that drawl makes me remember a different time in my life, and it brings back memories of being on a drill team, looking out at wide Texas skies, and enjoying the comfort of old Levis and buttery-soft boots. All that is why it’s always such a joy to write any book set in Texas. Writing about horses and cowboys and plains and Stetsons lets me relax a bit. I ease back into those y’alls and remember a time when I was sure everyone on earth used the phrase ‘fixing to’. I guess it goes to show that you really can take the girl out of Texas…but maybe not completely take the Texas out of the girl. And now, well, I’m not so sure I’d want that anyway. Each of us needs a little bit of our history with us, don’t you think? Even if it’s just to take out when it’s time to give those kids a talking to. I hope y’all will enjoy the last book in my Heart of a Hero Trilogy, A Texan’s Choice. Scout Proffitt is one of my favorite heroes, and I loved getting a chance to revisit some of my favorite characters from the series. In the meantime, please, do share. Do any of y’all have a word or phrase from your childhood that you just can’t give up? And, please stop back by on Monday. I’ll be giving away ten copies of A Texan’s Choice…for those of you who might want to get your Texan on for a little while, too. Posted 9 Responses to “Getting My Texan On”Leave a Reply |
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Love today’s blog. Can’t wait to get to read the book
Being an Alabamaian through and through (lived within a four block ratios all my almost 60 years) I can relate to what you are saying. Ya’ll and fixin to are certainly in my vocabulary as well as “Lord willing” got this from my grandmother and “Bless your heart”. I have read the first two books in your series and would love to win book three.
Visit here on Monday, Debra, and we’ll see what we can do to get you that free book! Thanks for stopping by!
My great-grandmother was 105 when she passed away, but she never lost all of her Kentucky accent. She warshed her clothes, ate breakast, and went to Warshington. The only thing she was ever afraid of was snakes. While these aren’t words I said growing up, they were definitely a part of my life growing up. To this day, however, I will still say ya’all once in a while, which definitely comes from my great-grandma as well.
The one thing I could never figure out when living in Texas for two years was how a shopping cart was a buggy! When you grow up around the Amish, they drive buggies and are nothing like a shopping cart. I so remember the fixin’ to and was told more than once to cut the lights on. We never cut things on where I grew up.
Donna, every so often, my mother would pronounce ‘wash’ with that ‘r’. I loved that! You are blessed to have had your grandmother for so long! She sounds like a special woman!
My cousin’s wife is from the south and she definitely has an accent. I lcve to hear her talk. I knew someone once who called a sack or bag a “poke”. He was from W.VA. I was talking to some one from northern Ohio once who asked me what southern state Iwas from & was surprised when I said I was from Ohio. No one else has ever said I sound said I sound southern. Maybe he was just “pulling my leg”. LOL I hadn’t thought of that saying in years.I guess everyplace has its own sayings. I worked with a girl from Michigan who called a drawer a “draw” She said you draw it out, not drawer it out.
Hi Jeanette! I’ve heard people in the southern part of Ohio do sound different than our northern counterparts! Too funny about your friend from Michigan. I hadn’t heard that…now I’m going to listen for that next time my Michigan friends speak. : )
Shelley,
I have enjoyed reading all of your books, but there’s something about a cowboy and a nice clean romance! I can’t wait to see how Scout’s story ends and would love to win a free copy of the book.
Keep up all of your great writing. It is a blessing to me and many others. Thank you.
Hi Heidi! I completely agree with you! When I write those westerns, I always smile. It’s fun to write about a cowboy hero with problems…and Scout definitely had more than a few. I hope you will enjoy his story!