I’m Fixin’ to Get That

Written By: Kim - Sep• 24•11

It’s amazing how quickly we slip in to our accent and vernacular. I was watching the University of Alabama game against the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. I was multitasking in the kitchen making a pear cake and dinner, when I slipped in to my southern roots. When I said, “I’m fixin’ to get that,” my children did a double take. They had never heard me talk like that. When my husband met me 21 years ago, I had only lived in Maryland for six months. I still had a slight southern accent that most people picked up on quickly. For my friends who have never visited or lived in the south, we call it southern.

I was a military brat who grew up in Georgia and Alabama. My Dad kept getting reassigned to Ft. Rucker, Alabama, so I consider Alabama “where I come from.” I finished high school there in a small town and graduated from college. It was a fabulous experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. But as a publishing professional for two decades, my speaking and writing has changed drastically since growing up in Alabama. Ain’t is no longer in my vocabulary. Nothing ends in “in'” it’s “ing.” My family doesn’t “git” anything.

I  haven’t visited Alabama since 1993. My Mom had a stroke and I flew home. My parents moved to South Carolina about two years later. I have not ventured back for any Enterprise High School class reunions. How could I so quickly launch in to speaking southern?

What made me slip in to my vernacular? A Crimson Tide football game and Facebook posts with former classmates who completely understand what football means. In the south, football is king. There are no other sports. Sure, we have other sports, but none are really as important. In the late summer and early fall, it’s all about football and marching bands, whether it’s high school or college. We eat, sleep and breathe it and our party lines are drawn: You’re either rooting for our team or you’re not. You’re either wearing our team colors or you’re an outlaw — at least during the game.

I was rather late to the Facebook game. I was active with Twitter and LinkedIn. I didn’t need Facebook. But since I joined this summer, I have reconnected with high school friends. It’s almost like we all haven’t been separated for over two decades. We all have kids; some of which are engaged or getting married. Some of us have lost a parent. We’re all working or own businesses and trying to enjoy our lives. I sincerely hope that we are living some part of our dream, if not all of it.

We all seem to be enjoying ourselves.

And, we all love our football.

Go Wildcats!

Roll Tide Roll!

Has Social Media Left Us with Nothing to Say?

Written By: Kim - Sep• 15•11

For quite some time, I resisted creating a Facebook account. I was active on Twitter. I had 500+ connections on LinkedIn. I did not care to be on Facebook. But like everyone else (or so it seems) in the world, I caved and created an account. I told myself it was so I understood Facebook more now that my children were on it. I was convinced that I was expanding my social media experience to stay relevant in the job market. I said I wanted to increase my Klout score.

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I quickly connected with friends, colleagues, college and high school friends I long ago had forgotten. As I scoured the list of names I might be connected with, a flood of memories came over me. The familiar names had me wondering how, after over two decades, I could recall these people from high school. Since I have not made it back to any high school reunions, I wondered how everyone was and what those of us who did or did not get along would think of each other as adults.

Now, I find myself immersed in everyone’s daily diary. Whatever it going on with each of us, we post. This includes happy or sad events and funny or frustrating moments. We watch each other’s children grow up. We have discussions over purchasing a power blender, planting a vegetable garden or showing off a new pair of shoes. We post photo albums of amazing trips, observations or just plain funny events. And then none of us can let anyone else have the last word, so we keep getting notifications of someone responding to our post or someone else’s. I too am guilty of this.

I majored in journalism and public relations in college and admit I am a news junkie. A professor told me I was the social butterfly of the journalism department. I always want to know what is happening. Before Facebook, most people classified this as nosiness. Now it’s called status.

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This really didn’t bother me until I was on a conference call with two colleagues I serve with on a volunteer basis. As we waited for others to join, I asked them what was going on.

Then I realized and commented that because we were all connected on Facebook, we already knew what was going on. We really had little to talk about. Our normal small talk was met with uncomfortable silence.

As we continue to see each other check in, post pictures, discuss the latest headline or make some observation, let’s remember to hold something back. Face-to-face interaction still matters. Keeping something private to discuss later will serve us all well.

I guess this means my blog will be quiet for a little while. Maybe.