North Carolina

My folks are from southern WVa not too far up the road from VA though I grew up in MD where they had moved and still reside shortly after my older sister was born in 1958. Mom never swears but she will say, "I swan" or sometimes "I swan to my goodness". I always thought my cousins having Sunday courtin' days was funny. My grandmas always wanted me to "give them some sugar" (a kiss) or wanted me to hug their necks (hug them). I came home from a date one time and my paternal grandparents were up visiting. I came in and sat down on the couch in the living room and my grandpa looked over at me and drawled, "ya been sparkin' ain't ya boy". One expression I always found particularly amusing was one my mom used when complaining about some politician or other as being "crooked as a dog's hind leg". Dad was from the mountain and mom from the holler. Lordy all the sudden I'm hungry for some beans and cornbread.