When you’re a Mississippian, you’ll know someone everywhere you go. Heard of six degrees of separation? We do it in two. And if you know someone’s mama — well, two degrees gets shaved to one. We’re one big happy family.
Land in Hartsfield/Jackson Airport (the ATL to the seasoned traveler) and be prepared to run into at least a dozen people you know. But this only applies to Mississippians. If you’re from anywhere else, say like Idaho, you won’t know a soul. But if you are a Mississippian, it will quickly become a high school reunion. Or a family get-together. Or a Bunko road trip. Look! Over there, there’s the First Baptist Glee Choir flying to Seattle!
And it doesn’t stop in C Concourse. When you get on your flight, you’ll know someone. It’s even money you’ll end up sitting next to your aunt’s second-husband’s banker’s wife’s daughter. And you’ll know her. You’ll also know she is hiding her pregnancy from her mom. And you won’t think anything is unusual about knowing it.
When you’re a Mississippian, you try to make connections with total strangers in the weirdest places. I was once in a cab heading from New York’s LaGuardia Airport and I asked the cabbie who his mama was. Really. He was from Pakistan. His mama didn’t know me from Abdul’s house cat. But I went ahead and asked anyway. (My wife slipped down, out of view out of pure shame. Or fear. Our driver was driving like he just learned how to drive — and he probably just did.) By Yankee Stadium, we were talking like old friends. I think we were 75th cousins twice removed.
A Mississippian also speaks to total strangers. That’s OK in the South. You get a pass. But up north, well, people look at you like you’re a serial killer from Hoboken. I made the horrible mistake (in the cashier’s eyes) of speaking to him when I was buying some aspirin. I also had the audacity of making eye contact with him. And for the record, no Mr. Cashier, I don’t do that to myself. Thanks for the suggestion.
My wife and I were walking down Broadway in the middle of Manhattan. We ran into friends who we didn’t know were traveling. It happens. But only if you’re a Mississippian.
I even caught myself doing the uniquely Southern thing of waving at the cabs going down the street. And they were nice enough to wave back. With one finger.
Bless their hearts. I bet I knew their mamas.
You’re telling the one-hundred-per-cent truth here, Marshall. Hilarious honesty, that’s the best policy. That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it!
A friend of my son moved to Richland from Cedar Rapids. I just “met” his mother on line when she wanted to know how my son is doing in boot camp. She moved down there about the same time we moved here. She’s a northerner but she’s Mississippi nice :) I always try to “chase” down any car in Iowa that has a Mississippi tag. It embarrasses my family, but hey, I probably know them!
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My husband is from California and doesn’t understand the satisfaction I get out of finding these little “connections” with strangers. He just thinks I am nosey.
While living in Texas we were visiting a very small sandwich shop in Bastrop, TX. The waitress ask me if she heard me mention “Mississippi” to which I relied, yes, we were born and raised in a very small town that you have probably never heard of, Kosciusko. Her mouth flew open and she said, “Honey, I was raised in Ethel, MS!!!”
I ran into someone I knew during the intermission of Peter Grimes at the Royal Opera House in London three weeks ago. Never fails.
I’m such a Mississippian…I made one of these connections just the other night while helping a couple whose motorcycle broke down. While our husbands worked on the bike, I discovered that the Marine and his wife are practically next door neighbors with some friends from high school!
I was in school in England. Walking to the tube one day, I ran into my mom’s friends. My mom did not even know they were in England. The couple did not realize I was going so soon. It was a great time. Students from Vermont thought that was the weirdest thing! I thought it was a common occurrence. I would much rather think it was more common than weird. I am so grateful to be born in America. I am ecstatic, jump up and down, pig rolling in mud happy about being a life long resident of Mississippi! Proud also.
I’ve been in Gulf Shores, AL for 4 days, looking for familiar faces. And Mississippi car tags.
it is amazing the connections you can find just by being friendly to others.
So true! I once sat by a former student on the way home from Atlanta and the husband of another former teacher of hers was on the same plane. The weirdest was when I sat by a stranger and then, when talking about where he and I were from, found out he had just bought a house down the street from me. Even weirder since I live in a small town!
So true! My husband and I met a couple from Alabama on a train in Ireland. My art teacher met a friend from Meridian (I think it was) while we were in New York City. The dentist who I went to as a child when I visited my mother in Idaho, well ex-wife and kids lived in Jackson… I talk to everyone too.
Very well put, Marshall Ransey. I do all those things here in New Zealand where I’ve been living for about 2-1/2 years. I get some of the oddest looks and stares from people but then they thaw and break into a grin.
What part of New Zealand do you live in? Would love to visit Auckland and thought about trying to run the Auckland marathon. Running over the Harbor Bridge would be incredible.
Say hello to Neil Finn for me.
You are so right! Last summer, I went to New York. While at St. Paul’s Chapel by Ground Zero, I ran into my kindergarten teacher!!!
So true. I even ran into friends shopping in Paris. What xa trip!
Several years ago 2 men were on a train heading out west. They began to talk and when one discovered that the other one was from Mississippi, he asked if he knew of Bill P. Turned out the fellow did. One from North Carolina and the other from Mississippi and they both knew my Dad.
Also, several years ago my parents were in Gatlinburg. While my Mom was shopping my Dad sat on a bench outside the store to wait. He got into a conversation with another man and it was discovered that they both were from Mississippi – one lived in Hattiesburg and the other lived in Purvis. His family came out of a store and went to lunch and my Mom and Dad proceeded to a nearby restaurant as well. Daddy was telling her about the man he spoke to and when they entered the restaurant, she saw a familiar face. The man’s daughter was a friend of mine and she and my Mom and I had taken smocking lessons together the year before.
Small world when you really stop and think about it!
I live in McComb. A dentist from McComb called me to ask if I could do something for his mother. It required me to mail some material to him. He was then living in Pendleton, OR working as a dentist on an Indian reservation as part of his service agreement. I grew up 12 miles south of Pendleton. I thought that was cool, but then he told me his mailing address. His house in Pendleton was 4 houses down the street from my parents house, and he knew my dad. Now how cool is that!
I took a travel nurse assignment in Los Angeles County several years ago. Moved to California for 6 months, and everywhere we went, we found someone that knew somebody we knew. I was outside gathering my wits after a little earthquake when another nurse came up and asked to borrow a lighter. Turns out she had moved from MS 17 years earlier…and her brother (who I know) was and still is the Chief of
Police 2 towns over from where I live. She called and woke him up at 3am
MS time to ask him if he knew me.
Last week as I was driving through Newton, they were having a roadblock. Chief Curry’s teeth like to have fell out of his head when I asked if his sister still lived in LA and how she was doing…LOL
When my parents were getting married, my mom’s oldest brother couldn’t make the wedding because he was stationed in Germany. On the day of the wedding in Tuscaloosa, Uncle Rob meet a couple sightseeing in Germany. On finding out they were from Mississippi, he remarked that his baby sister was marrying a guy from Mississippi that very day. Turns out the couple was also from my dad’s hometown of Senatobia! They assured him he as a nice guy!
Several years ago I was at Atlantis in the Bahamas. I was out by the pool talking to my daughter when a fine southern lady walks up to me and says,” that sounds like a central Mississippi accent you have there honey.” I told her that it indeed was and that I was from proudly from Madison, MS…… Turns out she was, too!
My wife and I toke my mom to Savannah, GA a few years back( mom’s first trip to the East Coast). On our last night there we were in a restaurant for dinner, and from across the room this lady called my mom by name. She was a co-worker of my mom’s that my mom hadn’t seen in 20 years. Only if you’r from Mississippi!
Moved to Marietta GA to work, went back to Mississippi, Told Aunt where I was working and she said that where your cousin David and Ted are Working.
Went to Toulouse France, Checked into Hotel, got a call from associate who ask me to call the front desk and ask for a Clerk named Eaves who was from England, Distant relative exchanged Genealogy.
More People are From Mississippi Than Live there.
How true!!! My hubby & I moved to Albuquerque, NM a few months ago & recently joined a local church. Since then we’ve found out that the pastor’s grandfather taught my father-in-law in school. And, another member’s granddad was a deacon at my husband’s family church… In Sandy Hook, MS. Before meeting my husband, I’d never even heard of the place!!
Oh how I love being a MISSISSIPPI girl!!!!