Oh My Sweet Carolina

What can I say?

The days are too short, the moments too quick. Spending time with those you love is like that, isn't it? But like any trip I take, adventurous points of interest still seem to occur.

Just yesterday morning, in fact, I headed out at 7:00 a.m. for a nice run. Already 80 degrees and 800% humidity (rough estimates), I knew I was in for a good time. Afterall, I'm running at practically sea level here and coming from several thousand feet, that feels so good. I can run faster because I am not falling over dead, gasping for breath. That, I expected. What I did not expect was the woman sitting on a bench in her front yard with a loud Southern drawl, "ma'am, ah you craazay?" I answered yes (I've long admitted that, no matter what the context). Or the man watering his flowers, "damn, y'aint from 'round hea, ah ya?" No. That and all the looks that clearly read how dare you run through our neighborhood, have you no idea what is happening in Charlotte today... get your butt inside, open a Bud and watch the race, girl pretty much solidified the obvious fact that I'm slightly out of my element.

However, worry not, my Southern roots are alive and well as I've reverted back to my burried habits of drinking sweet tea and eating okra, neither of which I ever want at home. But here, they're just so readily available. And let me tell you, there are very few things that beat sitting on the Outer Banks, drinking your sweet tea and holding your new baby nephew while you listen to waves crashing and children laughing.


As they say, the sweetest winds really do blow across the South. The people around here are just sweet. That's all there is to it. It is a good place to find yourself in, especially when you've spent the better part of the current year questioning your life and your future and where you should be. Sometimes, the human connection of a stranger's welcoming is all the escape you need.

You can see why I've had very little time to blog. What with all the rocking of baby boy, sweet tea, arcade games and downhome-ness of it all, I'm just too busy trying to figure out a way to stay longer.



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Oh My Sweet Carolina
by Ryan Adams

I went down to Houston And I stopped in San Antone
I passed up the station for the bus
I was trying to find me something
But I wasn't sure just what
Man I ended up with pockets full of dust

So I went on to Cleveland and I ended up insane
I bought a borrowed suit and learned to dance
I was spending money like the way it likes to rain
Man I ended up with pockets full of cane

Oh my sweet Carolina
What compels me to go
Oh my sweet disposition
May you one day carry me home

I ain't never been to Vegas
but I gambled up my life Building newsprint boats
I race to sewer mains
Was trying to find me something but I wasn't sure just what
Funny how they say that some things never change

Oh my sweet Carolina
What compels me to go
Oh my sweet disposition
May you one day carry me home

Up here in the city feels like things are closing in
The sunsets just my light bulb burning out
I miss Kentucky and I miss my family
All the sweetest winds they blow across the south

Oh my sweet Carolina
What compels me to go
Oh my sweet disposition
May you one day carry me home
May you one day carry me home