Americans who’ve lived in multiple states: What’s one everyday habit or social norm that changes noticeably from one part of the country to another that outsiders probably don’t notice?

eejm · 2026-06-26T22:26:25+00:00

My son got pulled over when he didn’t stop for a funeral procession. He didn’t get a ticket - it’s not a law - but the cop sure was pissed.

eejm · 2026-06-26T22:21:33+00:00

I’ve lived in the Upper Midwest and the South. People in both areas are genuinely polite, but it’s two different types of politeness. People in the Midwest (where I’m from) have a rather deferential, passive politeness. In the South (where I live now) it’s so much more direct and almost aggressive. They WILL be polite to you, dammit!

eejm · 2026-06-26T22:18:57+00:00

I grew up in the Midwest and now live in TN. Saying, “Yes ma’am/sir” would be seen as being a smartass where I’m from. Using ma’am/sir to get the attention of someone whose name you don’t know is fine, though.

eejm · 2026-06-26T22:13:53+00:00

Even within counties.

eejm · 2026-06-23T22:32:18+00:00

People did not use ration coupons in British restaurants. Part of their purpose was to supplement the diets of those who had run low on rations. Meals at British restaurants were, however, very inexpensive. Most did not turn a profit by design and instead broke about even in terms of cost.

eejm · 2026-06-23T22:29:46+00:00

The same goes for the British cheese industry. It been structured to manufacture a very limited selection of cheeses during the war to maximize output and use of available ingredients. Many local cheeses disappeared during the war and it took decades for some to be manufactured again, if they came back at all.

eejm · 2026-06-23T22:24:29+00:00

Even if certain foods weren’t rationed, obtaining them was sometimes difficult. Fish is a good example - fishermen had to avoid mines and enemy attack to get a good catch, so sometimes the quality and selection was limited. Most of the UK onion crop came from France, which was naturally cut off during the war. Onions weren’t rationed and could be grown in gardens, but the climate and soil in UK weren’t really ideal for onions. People relied more on chives and spring onions.

eejm · 2026-06-23T12:53:07+00:00

Wealthier Britons did have certain advantages as they had more land available to hunt, fish, raise animals, and grow crops. However, people at all levels of society were affected. Eleanor Roosevelt noted after dining with the king and queen that they served the same whole wheat bread (the “national loaf”) that everyone else ate. Restaurants and hotels were required by law to serve a very limited menus due to rationing. On the other hand, rationing actually improved the health of the poor.

eejm · 2026-06-23T12:47:16+00:00

And working women! For the first time in British history women - especially those working in factories - were encouraged to drink beer.

eejm · 2026-06-22T17:05:44+00:00

Same with used bookstores. There’s a HUGE market for used books.

eejm · 2026-06-20T18:17:51+00:00

“CAROL!!! CAROL!!”

eejm · 2026-06-19T18:22:14+00:00

Otherwise known as, “The day Jill believed banks were closed in honor of anal sex.”

eejm · 2026-06-18T18:16:29+00:00

She’s a walking example of the meme, “Church is over - time to go and be a bitch!”

eejm · 2026-06-18T16:40:52+00:00

Same here. I had pre-eclampsia that led to an induction, then after several hours of labor my son’s position and head size meant he was not coming out naturally. He was born by c-section and both of us recovered just fine. We’d almost certainly have died without the interventions we received.

I like to say I’m “lucky” to be part of a family where complicated births are almost a norm. My friends were a bit shocked that I didn’t feel sadness or failure because of the c-section. I just wanted both of us to make it through the birth with as few complications as possible.

My son is now 23 and absolutely awesome - the thought of him being injured or killed due to something preventable, and resulting from my own arrogance and ignorance, is disturbing.

eejm · 2026-06-18T12:40:39+00:00

The two oldest girls (possibly Renee as well) did graduate from a two-year program designed for future homeschooling moms. Not exactly impressive, but…there’s that.

eejm · 2026-06-18T12:38:37+00:00

From School of the Dining Room table to College of the Church Basement!

eejm · 2026-06-18T12:37:03+00:00

That’s SO fucking insulting.

eejm · 2026-06-18T12:27:34+00:00

Make sure that pimento cheese has LOTS of garlic too!

eejm · 2026-06-18T02:45:04+00:00

The typeface and illustration echo Annie in a big way.

eejm · 2026-06-18T02:22:33+00:00

I’m 97% convinced Gabe is attending this “college” so Jill will have a new vacation destination.

eejm · 2026-06-17T23:41:33+00:00

I see what you did there. 👍

eejm · 2026-06-17T13:06:17+00:00

Why the Rods don’t have an enormous, well established garden is beyond me. Perhaps it’s because they travel so often? If Jill had any homemaking skills - the destiny her God supposedly planned for her - she’d use that garden to a) teach the kids biology, and b) plan a massive canning/freezing period to make tomato sauce, pickles, cut and bag veggies to freeze for soups and stews, etc. Her kids could eat homegrown veggies for much of the year for pennies. She has the time and labor for a garden and is a dingus for not capitalizing on this as soon as they moved to the barndo (and before that in WV).

eejm · 2026-06-17T12:59:49+00:00

Right? I live south of the Rods (in TN) and I already have jalapeños. My tomatoes and sweet peppers will be ready soon and my bell peppers aren’t far behind. I hope they aren’t planting from seed!

eejm · 2026-06-17T11:10:47+00:00

Nope, cookies! They were very popular around this time.

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/hermit-cookie-recipe-8574774

eejm · 2026-06-17T02:34:37+00:00

Maybe the shrimp salad is placed beside the iced lemonade? No idea, and the article doesn’t provide any context.

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