Bless Your Heart
Right up there with "Y'all" and "Kiss my grits" is another one of my most favorite "Southern Sayings" EVER:
"Bless your heart..."
This phrase is really a Southern woman's secret weapon, and an example of her silver tongue at its finest. While it seems like a perfectly lovely sentiment, 9 times out of 10 it's not meant to be. You see, as Southern women we would never outrightly insult anyone for the world, we are ladies and behave as such. But thanks to this little gem we can say whatever we want about anyone without it seeming like we're being ugly (that means being hateful or rude in "Southern"). Here are a few of my favorite memes on the subject... Please forgive the language. I'd never actually drop an F-bomb... it's just implied:
Put it in a sentence:
"Did you see Wanda's outfit at Church yesterday mornin? It was just the tackiest thing I've ever seen and I don't think she had any idea, bless her heart."
(Translation: Wanda looked like a slut in church.)
"Bless your heart, you look like you haven't slept in DAYS!"
(Translation: You look TERRIBLE.)
"Bless his heart, Tom couldn't hit the answer to that question with a 10 foot pole!"
(Translation: Tom's an idiot.)
"I just got an STD* for the Wallace girl's wedding and it's the same day as the Lewis girl's wedding. Bless their hearts, what will they do?!"
(Translation: No one in their right mind would go to the Wallace wedding over the Lewis wedding. Wedding Season in The South is a battlefield.)
*In the South, STD is an acronym more widely used for "Save The Date" than "Sexually Transmitted Disease".
SO, in honor of my favorite saying, I've decided to start a weekly installation on this blog.
Introducing: "Bless Your Heart" of The Week!
I'll be posting a new one every Wednesday from now on so stay tuned, and feel free to write in and share your own "Bless Your Heart" experiences. But remember - we're not being ugly, we're just concerned!!
With Grace and Good Humor,
