Where Are You From?

My wife and I were at a party the other night and got into one of those discussion that you only get into when you’re at a party.

It all started when I asked one of my typical Southern questions (a standard) -- “Where are you from?”

Other potential follow-up questions include “Are you related to. . ..?” “How’s your mamma and your family?” “Who do you think the quarterback will be this year?”

Anyway. .. back to the original question.

“Where are you from?”

The answer was “Birmingham.” But, herein lies the problem. Through no fault of his own, this is not the right answer.

After more conversation I soon found out that he actually was “from” the midwest but had “lived” in Birmingham for several years.

This is a broad brush that I’m wielding, but I would be willing to speculate that any Southerner worth their salt would answer the question of “Where are you from?” with the town in which they were born.

Whether they lived there for a year, two years or 10 years, that’s where you’re from.
“Where are you from?”

“I’m from Courtland, Alabama, about 20 miles west of Decatur. But I’ve lived in Birmingham for about four years.”

Where are you from?

“I was born in Corinth, Mississippi, but moved to Jackson when I was about two.”

Of course, as with most things Southern, I have my parents and grandparents to thank for this interesting convoluted answer to what is a relatively simply question.

So now I’m cursed with having to answer a simple question in a complicated manner. But this is only complicated to those outside the South.

To those of us who were born and raised here and to those who have moved here and embraced our culture and all of the peculiarities that go with that culture, we understand the situation.

Where are you from?

“I’m from Birmingham.”

“Yeah. . .I understand that, but where were you born?”

“Oh. . .you mean where am I from. Well. . .I was born in Detroit, Michigan, moved to. . .”

Part of the discussion of this entire phenomenon centered on exactly why Southerners interpret the question this way.

I would offer the theory that this comes from a common Southern genetic trait that instills in them a great sense of pride. Honestly, as cliched as it sounds, maybe it’s because we lost the War of Yankee Aggression.

Interestingly enough, when I’m asked the question, the more rural the answer, the more Southern you are perceived.

For example. . .if someone asks me where I’m from and I answer that I’m from Decatur, Alabama. They would blink a couple of times and move on to something else.

However, if someone asks me where I’m from and I answer that I’m from Courtland, Alabama, then we begin talking about small towns.

The difference here is that Decatur is perceived as a “big” city and therefore like every other big city in America, while Courtland, which has a population of about 1,000 people on a good day, is perceived as what it is -- a rural small town and, therefore, much more interesting.

To make matters even more interesting, my father owned a hardware store and had a farm.

For someone who is not particularly comfortable with small talk, this makes life a little easier.

Many times my answer revolves around whether I want to talk more to the person who has asked the question.

Where are you from?

“I’m from Decatur.” Interpretation: I’m not in the mood to make more small talk.

Where are you from?

“I’m from Courtland, Alabama.” Interpretation: Let’s talk about the disappearance of the small town in America and what the impact will be.