Many different states have their signature stamps on the United States, but any of y'all from our great State of Tennessee understand these 10 things we know to be true.
1. Game day is sacred... period.
If you're a VFL, you know what every Saturday holds. No other thing in this world can compare to Saturdays in Neyland, and this year, it really feels like '98. You have been a season ticket holder your whole life, and you can practically remember your first words being "Go Vols." You grew up learning Peyton Manning was the man and you have enough orange in your closet to wear every day of the week. On game days, we sit in our seats and scream our anthem of "Rocky Top" until we can't anymore. It never gets old and the hype never wears off. We have our enemies like Bama, Florida and Georgia, and this year we're about to expose them. September 1 can't come fast enough.
2. The sweeter, the better.
This can account for not only the sweet tea, but also our southern hospitality. Here in Tennessee, we are known for our southern charm. If you're from out of state, you're in shock when you visit and a stranger holds the door open for you and greets you with a warm smile or a "Howdy." We like our tea sweet... real sweet. The sweeter, the better. Nobody quite makes it like us in the South.
3. Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge trips are our mini-vacays.
You know where you're going when the parents want to get away for the weekend. Load up the van -- we're going to Dollywood... because we're season pass holders and have been since birth. Dollywood is sort of like our own Disney. We have Dollywood itself, but we also have Splash Country in the summer months. At night, we have options like going out to a dinner show, shopping at the outlets, riding go-carts, or my personal favorite, the drive-through at Krispy Kreme. Our Smokey Mountains are like no others in the world.
4. Calling for snow? You mean no school for a month?
You can remember being out of school for weeks at a time. The first sign of snow was automatically an early dismissal. Most of the time, we got out if snow was even being predicted. Thank God for our peers that lived on top of the mountain. The snow apocalypse was something you heard about once a year. "It's the worst storm ever," and people who don't know run to the store to stock up on bread and milk, but the rest of us know it's just another snow.
5. Bristol, baby.
Your dad went to every race and sometimes even dragged you along. If not, he was sitting in his recliner, drinking a beer, and rooting for Dale Jr. You know the races are coming to town when the RVs start rolling in. It's the home of jorts, confederate flags, Miller Light, and crop tops. Y'all know what I'm talking about.
6. Church on Sunday.
Sunday school at 10 and service at 11, every Sunday. The only time you missed church is if you were sick or out of town. You can sing every song in the hymnal without even looking and your daddy's a deacon. Church luncheons, trips, and Vacation Bible School were things you didn't miss either. It's just another Sunday in the South.
7. Nanny's home cookin' is something you don't mess with.
Nothing beats some home cooking. Cracker Barrel ain't got nothing on a meal that Nanny makes in her kitchen. It's like Christmas all over again every time she cooks. It's southern comfort food like baked beans, corn bread, and chicken and dumplings that we know and love. You can taste the love in every bite you take, and three helpings later, it's time for some cobbler with ice cream on top.
8. The birthplace of country music.
Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, and Craig Morgan are just some of the few artists from our great state. Nashville is where all the aspiring country artists go to try to reach fame. We have anything from the CMA Country Music Festival, which brings in thousands of country music lovers every year, to the Grand Ole Opry, which has hosted every star you can think of. We love our new country, but we also appreciate and sing along to our classic country like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and George Jones. It just runs in our veins to love country.
9. Line dancing is a way of life.
You probably learned your first line dance when you were 5, and as you got older, your skill set just expanded, probably in your living room. Outsiders think line dancing is easy because they can dance styles like hip hop and jazz, or maybe even do the waltz. Well, they have another thing coming when the music starts and they try to tush push or watermelon crawl. The Cotton-Eyed Joe is world-famous for line dancing, and we have it right in Knoxville. Of course, Sunday nights are the best nights to go. It's a sacred tradition down here.
10. Volunteer forever.
Our traditions run deep, but our name runs deeper. The war of 1812 brought us our name when Tennessee had the most volunteers to go and defend our homeland. When asked for 2,000 soldiers to fight, Tennessee proudly offered 30,000. Our state linage is one that will be remembered forever. Not only is our state nickname the Volunteer State, but it's also the nickname of our beloved Vols. Being a Vol is something we'll always be proud of.
Rocky Top, you'll always be home sweet home to me.
