If there is one thing I try to keep close is my younger days…I mean younger…the day I was born. Now when people ask me where…well I put my head down mumble, cough and kinda turn my head to the side. It really doesn’t work and I end up having to explain why? Now they don’t really care and do their best to remain polite, which means they don’t laugh. But it is hard to cover their amusement at my sudden change of demeanor. You see I was born in The Bronx, New York…yes that New York. Their best efforts are completely destroyed by their next statement. “Well Bless Your Heart” If you are from the south then you should know that the phrase has multiple meanings and is used to express genuine sympathy but sometimes as an insult that conveys condescension, derision, or contempt. You are granted the choice, pick one. In my case I really believe it was used to express genuine sympathy. I was raised in the south, that New York thing was the fault of the Army Air Corps…well my Dad was responsible also. Now please understand it was war time, Mom’s parents lived in the Bronx. Let’s think about this for a moment. What with gas being rationed and all the patriotic efforts being done to preserve as much as we could to fund the troops… a young girl with child could not have gone traipsing across the country although I believe she would would have to spare me this cross. As I shared with you before we moved after every four years and then came my salvation. We ended up in Texas! I immediately adopted Texas as my home. I loved every year I was there and as silly as it seems to this day I love Texas. Why you may ask? I can’t speak for now at this time but I can tell you it is true what the say…oh not that every things bigger stuff… No one ever asked me where are you from. They just welcomed me and judged me by what I did. Yes I realize I was born in the Bronx, NewYork but I am southern raised and Texas made.

Funny how this back porch turns the day around. See you next week here on the back porch.

Kurt