Southerners are Weird

I know I've been waxing poetic about Texas lately, what with my Bluebonnet post a few days ago. BUT...I had had had to post this.

Growing up in Houston, TX...there's a lot of differences between me and your standard Oklahoman. I drive at "Texas Speeds", am shocked that there isn't a mall on every corner, and i refer to every single carbonated beverage on the market as "Coke". As the above illustrated map indicates...it's a southern thing.

I remember the first time I felt alienated up here in Oklahoma. We were at Ron's, and our waitress asked us what kind of "Pop" we'd like.

Yikes.

I'm sure we looked at her like she'd grown a third head before we remembered out manners and politely placed our drink order. Not long after that, when we were, again, out eating...I remember asking another waitress "What kind of Coke do you have?" She seemed confused, and replied: "Um...regular and diet?"

You see, in Houston, when a waitress asks for your drink order, she says "What kind of Coke would you like? We have Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, and Coke." Of course, anyone in their right mind will order a Dr. Pepper...but that's another tale for another day.

Marty calls it "Pop". Most of my girlfriends call it "Pop". Hannah even called it "Pop" the other day. I had a full-body shudder when I heard it.

"Honey," I told her "you've inherited the Texas from me...so it's your duty to call it 'Coke.' If I hear that p-word come out of your mouth again, you're dis-inherited."

Just doin' my job.