Conversations with Mr. Meangenes:Talkin' Country ...an' Stuff

Mr. Meangenes joined me on the patio this morning, as I settled down with a big bowl of Cereal. He eyed me as I sprinkled some raisins on top.

"You gonna eat all them raisins by yourself, are you ?"

" I suppose," I asked  sarcastically. " I suppose you're going to want a bowl of cereal to go along with them ?"

" It wouldn't hurt none," he drawled. " Spoon'd go real nice too."

Oh boy ! Not only was he  scrounging  breakfast, but he was "talkin' Country"  today !!

Nonetheless, I went back to the kitchen and fixed a big bowl of Rice Chex. It was a good thing I had, because, when I got back, old Meangenes was scarfing down my bowl of cereal !

"Set, down, set down !", he invited. " Make yerself to home."

I gritted my teeth. More cornpone Clodhopper John talk ! 

It reminded me of when I used to sell musical strings and accessories at Bluegrass jams and festivals.

People who had Harvard MBAs, and who drove BMWs would saunter up to my stand and say things like "How much are these-here wires ?" ( They would pronounce the word as "wahrs".) Why did they talk that way ? I guess they thought they were "talkin' Country".

Conversely I noticed some of the Bluegrass performers, who were from the Deep South, or who lived in the hills of Kentucky, would lose their regional accents when negotiating the price of strings.Some of them would get downright "Harvard MBA" !

Politicians - who, when you think about it, depend heavily on "shuckin' and jivin'" to win and keep their jobs - have become notable for their ability to "talk the talk" with their consitiuents. Hillary Clinton , out on the campaign trail , made a "down home" speech to a friendly, largely Black audience. (I say "friendly" because no one in the audience got up and shouted : " Girl, You talk that way at home ??? ")

Speaking of "down home" expressions , there is one that has made its way through the Black and White communities like a dose of salts : the vague, ubiquitous, and iniquitous "an' stuff".

" I was drivin' down the road at fifty miles an hour an'stuff when this cop pulls me over. I mean I see his flashers an'stuff,so I go: "Whoa! " An' stuff,an' I pull over, an' he ax me for my license an' stuff, an' I go: "I musta left it home an'stuff..."

Just thinking about it, I started to break into a cold sweat . Must-get-off-this-topic-before-I-start-to-say-"an'stuff" !!!

Mr. Meangenes looked up from his cereal, and peered at me intently : "What ??"

I shook my head. " Nothin' . Leastaways, no big thang.Say: listen: You faxin' ta eat up all them-thar raisins  ?"

" Look at you !", I went on. " Land o' Goshen, boy ! You got a belly on ya like a June frog !"

Mr. Meangenes looked shocked. " Man, you talk that way at home ........an' stuff??"