Gary BUTTERWORTH Online

Stratford, NJ
 

I remember when I was in elementary school; in the summers, we would frequently visit my dad’s extended family in Asheville, North Carolina.  Once, I asked my mom why everyone around there had an accent, but we didn’t.  Sometime, as I grew older, I realize that, of course, everyone has some kind of accent.  I’ve been aware of that conceptually for a while now, but it’s only been in the past few months (shortly before I moved back here) that I’ve actually been able to notice the South Jersey/Philadelphia accent on my friends and family.  Probably because I had been away for about five and a half years.

I had my first visitors here at my grandmom’s a week or so ago: Dan Dean and his girlfriend! 

(Don’t worry I’ve since had a haircut, so I look far less ridiculous.  Also, my grandmom’s house needs a “Hotel Garyfornia”-esque nickname, don’t you think?  Also also, why don’t YOU stop by?!)

It’s funny that I stumbled across that accent quiz today, because Dean’s lady mentioned to me that she didn’t think I had much of an accent.  In a way, I was happy to hear her say that, because the extreme Philly accent annoys the hell out of me (especially on girls).  But at the same time, I was also kinda proud to score a perfect “Philly” on that test, too.  Ironic, huh?  Or hypocritical?

(I took that test honestly, just to let you know.  I didn’t try to get any particular result).

Of all the areas I’ve visited and lived (South Jersey, Syracuse, Washington DC, Strasbourg, “suburban” Maryland), I’ll admit that NJ was never really my favorite.  Judging by the number of people I know who’ve moved out of the area (Florida seems to have a particularly strong appeal), I don’t think it’s many people’s favorite.  (I over-use parenthetical comments, don’t I?).  I’ve definitely found great things everywhere I’ve been: 

• Syracuse probably has more of an impact in making me who I am than anywhere else, and, through the University, I’ll always have some connection to the place.  I liked it a lot.
• I was probably more of a “success” in DC/Maryland than anywhere else.  Aside from NJ, I spent more tine there than anywhere else, and I knew my way around the area better than anywhere else, too.
• Strasbourg was probably my favorite place.  It’s friggin beautiful!  And I probably had more fun there than anywhere else.

But since I’ve been back in NJ, I’ve been kind of surprised to notice just how much more of a connection I seem to feel here than anywhere else.  Meeting some family members I hadn’t seen in 18 years, drinking my grandfather’s liquor, and spending more time with my family in the past month than I do in an average year might have something to do with that, but that’s not really it.  I think it’s mostly just that, having spent more than 18 years here, I just feel like more of an insider than anywhere else.  I know exactly how everyone feels when the sports teams choke, I remember the obscure news stories from a decade ago, I legitimately love Wawa, I say “wooder,” and the theme from Channel 6 Action News (the Delaware Valley’s Leading News Program) is oddly comforting.  And I desparately want the Iggles to go all the way this year.

I’m not sure I really have anywhere else to go with this.  Just that it’s odd to feel more at home in a place you don’t particularly love than anywhere else. 

(Do you guys like these introspective posts?  I always feel weird writing them.)

Oh, and another thing: being from this area, I also know it’s weird to wear short sleeves “down the shore” in January!  I’ve been looking for some pictures to illustrate just how messed up this weather is, but I can’t find them.  Check back later and hopefully I’ll have added them.

Filed under: Garyana, Life, Reminiscing, South Jersey, WHAT?! Tagged: | accents