If someone had told me I would write about the precarious, furry creatures with oversized teeth that are commonly referred to as beavers, I would have told you that you were crazy, yet here I am doing just the thing. My stories come to me at random times, and they honestly can’t be predicted. So, here we are. For whatever reason, I’ve realized the beaver has randomly popped in and out of my entire life, and my curiosity of the animal has recently piqued my interest. And I found myself asking: Beaver…friend or foe? I guess it depends on how you look at it.

There are two things in life we obviously cannot escape- death and taxes. I’ve come to terms with the death thing, but taxes I’m still working on. At least when you die, there’s a celebration. Maybe paying taxes would be easier if we threw a party each April. Then again, you’d have to have some money left over for a proper celebration. Now, everyone knows the closest big event next to a southern wedding is that of the southern funeral. Southern funerals are just as big (sometimes even bigger), last even longer, can be very impromptu at times, and can even require an event coordinator. I know, that seems crazy, right? But I’ll have you know, a few funerals I have been to in Nashville, Tennessee, had an event coordinator because they were such the soiree. And if an event coordinator is not in the budget, a nosy and over-involved aunt will suffice.

A recent study completed by the University of Oxford show that there are key scientific benefits to children being raised around their grandparents. It is a fact that grandparents play a high-level role in the emotional as well as behavioral development of children. Grandparents consistently surrounded by their grandchildren tend to live longer lives, too. As my husband and I consider moving closer to my in-laws, I can’t help but think about the long-term benefits that will evolve for both my in-laws and my own children. I also think about the grandparents of my personal, everyday childhood with fondness and full- on belly laughter.

Growing up as a little girl in the South, our families and fellow girlfriends start discussing our hypothetical weddings at an extremely early age. From flower choices to shades of bridesmaids’ dresses, you may or may not be surprised how often the topic is thrown around. As a child of the eighties, I knew exactly what was being discussed every time I heard the Steel Magnolias quote, “my colors (pronounced like kullahs) are blush and bashful.” And while all the little southern girls may be programmed to daydream of their kullahs and distinct wedding palettes, they also dream about the event that leads up to the main event- the proposal.

As I become a seasoned mother, I find things coming out of my southern mama mouth that surprise even me. The urban dictionary defines momism as “things that your mom tells you that can be considered wise, but most of the time you just do whatever you feel like and the one time she’s right, you will never hear the end of it.” I laughed out loud when I read this. I tend to think of a momism exactly the way the urban dictionary does, but I also categorize it by any saying that a mother has on repeat through her child rearing years. The latest momism that is actively going around my house (and has been for the last few months) tends to get many laughs, although it is simply a-not-so-sugarcoated truth. For whatever reason, my husband has convinced my eight-year-old son that a buzz cut would be a great idea for him to have this summer. Now, some may agree with the particular hairstyle, given the heat and humidity of the South, but I strongly disagree. And I make it well known that I am not in agreement when I simply respond with my very own momism, “honey, you just don’t have the ears for a buzz cut.” He always looks at me in the most confused way and responds, “What does that mean?”

Quick warning- this may not be the story for you if you are a vegetarian. And, I’m pretty sure I have written that line before. As the Fourth of July is closing in on us, I find myself planning, packing, and getting groceries for the upcoming celebration. And when I think of the Fourth of July, I think of delicious barbecue- especially the ribs. You see, here in the South, and here in my home, ribs are somewhat of a staple.

I find it very interesting to learn that nicknames have been around since the fourteenth century. This is when the term “eke name” was first used. The actual meaning of

“eke name” is to have an additional name. Now, one thing I am sure of is that here in the South, we take our nicknames very seriously, and boy do they stick- whether good or bad. And they’ll stick when you least expect it. Personally, it is rare that I even hear my true name anymore, and when I do, it is usually in a business setting or with people that have not known me for too long.

These days, with especially how hot it is outside, most of us are looking for a cold, convenient drink to quench our thirst. If you’re like me, a beer is too heavy, and a wine sometimes too sugary or strong for the early afternoon. I tend to lean toward the new-ish hard seltzer drinks in a can. They are perfect for a hot afternoon on the lake, a long day on the beach, while enjoying a ride on a pontoon boat, or to whet your whistle during a back yard barbecue. I just want to know where these suckers were when I was in college. Tailgating in The Grove at Ole Miss would have been so much easier. I also kick myself for not thinking of the idea, but I digress.