If you saw my earlier update on facebook, you saw that I had an encounter with a woman that was obviously out of state. It was quite late, and as she was exiting the checkout line, she exclaimed-"Fucking hillbillies". She was referring to the elderly lady and the entourage of walmart employees that were gathered at the front of the store watching a cop work. He had been called to the store for some reason or another, probably shoplifting. The employees were simply curious, they were watching, probably hoping for a bright spot of action in their otherwise dull night. She was dressed impeccably and had her hair pulled back in a tight bun-ish look. She did not have the look to me of having been to finishing school, but she obviously was not used to such uncouth people. I suppose in a way it is prejudice, but i would call her pretentious. I walked out, got in my truck and made sure to drive past her car, loudly playing Green Day. I looked directly at her, caught her eye and smiled. In that instant, I dont care if she cared, but she knew, I really was proud to be a fucking hillbilly.
I know a lot of you have moved away from the area and you may not have even been a part of the culture of neck when you were here, but you are still from here. You were around the culture growing up and you know the tops and bottoms of it. You remember the folks out in Hollywood and Bretz, the ones out on the farm, the ones in town and the preps that didnt know they were part redneck. You likely fell into that category. Oh, you fell to the trends, the Nike's, the sweaters, the big hair...wait, redneck chicks liked big hair, still do in some places. You still had your mainstream thinking, your camaro-driving boyfriends, your pop music and your girlfriend with her Agner purse. You were still redneck. No? You may not have known it, but since you were from here, that very fact made you part redneck. You might let a little bit of it slip now and then, you probably dont even realize it. Look at all the fuss mentioning pepperoni rolls made on facebook. It's your roots people. Do you catch yourself being nice when those around you are indifferent and not so nice? City thinkers. Hmmpph. Yes ma'am and no ma'am? You bet. You miss the hills when you see flatland, you secretly miss the slower pace, the people that still porch-sit in the evening and the drawal that you've worked so hard NOT to have.
I have tried to keep as close to my roots as possible. My great-grandparents were bootleggers during prohibition. Keeping with that tradition, I make as much wine as possible, for consumption and gifting, dont you know. I butcher what I kill, I can tan hides and I dont hire people to work on vehicles or houses. We hillbillies like to save when we can, where we can. That doesnt always mean at the bank, either. I like my southern drawal, I like living in my half-finished house and I like when people like that uppity, pretentious bitch call me a fucking hillbilly.
She was probably embarassed about her roots. She couldnt have anyone thinking she wasnt as cool and hip as the people on those stupid reality shows. She couldnt be seen as being less than big city, less than a society girl or as she sees her friends at work. Dont get me wrong, there's nothing wrong or bad about being city, I just couldnt stand that she looked down on us for being what we are. I like the fact that (at least I think it's a fact) I can talk to the guy in the sticks the same as I can talk to a college professor. Poor analogy, maybe. I can talk to city people as well as I can talk to my neighbor. You probably still do too. I dont know why I dedicated a whole rant to this, I suppose it just grates on me when someone feels they are above another. Even if she was slighted a bit by the cashiers she didnt have the right to dis us hillbillies. She could have easily have said" dumbass cashiers" or "frickin' idiots" but noooo, she had to go to the racist"hillbillies" remark.
I guess there isnt much that can be done. If I was smart, I would have said something to her, but it would have only gotten me a derogatory look and a smartass response. If she was a guy, I could have punched her and at least there lies some satisfaction. I dont want all the bleeding heart crap. Retribution has its rewards. She will continue on her way, spending the rest of her life, not knowing what she is ostracising and missing. I wonder when I meet someone like her, what brought her to this and how will the kids turn out, if they have kids. Wellll,,,,,it's time for me to go to the 'ol treestand. I know a lot of you will go about your business today, never pausing to think about your redneck blood. It's okay, people like me will be here, waiting for you. Y'all are welcome anytime. Drop on in and sit a spell. Take your shoes off. Sweet tea's in the fridge and there really is a mason jar of wine in there too. Want a sip?
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