Well, we've made it - the better part of two days drive and 640 miles, later - and I do believe that I am absolutely in lust with nearly everyone I have met here in North Carolina, thus far.

"Hyalldointday?"

What?

"Kinygit...ya'll?"

Here's the thing - I'm not trying to be fresh, or anything - growing up with Hungarian parents, in an extremely ethnic neighborhood and surrounded by more cultures than a pediatrician can wave a stick at, especially during cold and flu season - yes, even she's from...you know...somewhere else - the kids and I have grown accustomed to hearing, and have no problem understanding, people who, you know, talk funny.

"Um...hi...uh...um...your earrings are very pretty!"

Can I just tell you, the woman never even batted an eyelash...but, she did start talking a whole heck of a lot slower, all of a sudden!

"Well, aren't yooooooou jest theeeeeee niiiiiiicest, most sweeeeeeest, liiiiiitle thaaaaaaang!"

And then she pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Waaaaaaar ya'll fruuuuuuum?"

I told her that my husband, Garth (not his real name) and I were visiting from Jersey.

"Aaaaaaaand, he left ya'll to diiiiiiine byer-self?"

Yes...I mean...no...not really.

"Well, he's travelin' on bin-ness."

I mean, business.

"And I'm sorta, yah-know, workin' from our hotel rooooooom?"

It's about now when I realized that my speech pattern seemed to be changing and that my tongue had taken on a life of it's own.

"Aaaaaaand, this is the fust tiiiiiiime I've had to muh-self...without the keeeeeeeds...in a dawg's age!"

She gave be this sort of...uhhhhhhh-huh...sort of nod, but never stopped smiling.

"Where'd ya'll saaaaaaay, ya'll fruuuuuuum?"

[without missing a beat]

"Suh-thun New Jersey!"

Oh my doG, but we laughed and laughed. [wiping eyes]

"Kinygit...ya'll?"

Blank stare. "Uhhhhhhh-huh...and um...I looooooove your glasses, too!" It's okay, she finally figured out that I was feeling pretty uncomfortable - apparently, a lot of Southerners have a hard time understanding us, too - and my new best friend, Pauleen (or, Pow-leen) was kind enough to order, for me:

• fried catfish
• dumplings in (white) gravy
• corn
• turnip greens
• fried apples
• homemade raspberry iced tea

Oh...my...LORD...but, I do believe they've turned my Yankee heart...um...do ya'll don't have a baseball team, or anything? Riiiiiiight. Anyhow, while Garth is busy networking his buns off, I'm meeting up with the locals and looking forward to getting to know all there is to know about...um...ya'll - if anyone needs me, I'll be in downtown Charlotte...shopping...and crushing on some street vendor...HARD...no doubt!