I really am uncomfortable typing those three letters side by side up there – because who knows who will end up reading this by just googling “KKK southeast Georgia?”

I’m not in any way affiliated with “The Klan” – nor am I knowingly aware of anyone who is either. But, a few interesting things have happened lately to remind me, in very strange ways, that I’m living in the South. A south that still has a hint of “Old South” in it. A south that is… well…

I think I’m just gonna have to tell you about it:

Story #1. Apparently the KKK is still(!) around. I’ve heard reports from NUMEROUS sources (including a few interesting news articles) that a meeting was recently held in a location not-too-far from here. And the meeting addressed issues that are on the forefront of political chatter, including immigration, separation of church & state, and sex offenders. Random. I didn’t realize they were concerned with such a variety of issues. And, I don’t know if that’s comforting or alarming. If it weren’t for all these news reports, I would’ve gone on assuming – like most everyone else – the Ku Klux Klan had been dismantled.

Story #2. I recently spoke to an African American gentleman who was old enough to be my dad. It surprised me that he kept referring to me as “ma’am” because I know I look like I’m 18. Granted, he may have just been polite. Again, I repeat, he may have just been polite… At first glance, that would be the logical assumption. But, pairing his “yes ma’ams” with no eye-contact at all, felt rather “Old South” to me and I didn’t like it…  I wouldn’t have even picked up on the “no eye contact” thing, except for the fact that everybody makes eye contact with EVERYBODY down here, especially when in conversation. This is quite the contrast from Boston, where nobody looks at anybody UNLESS they’re talking. There was a time when this “yes ma’am sans eye-contact” was the right way to address southern white women. Even the young women. I’m not necessarily sure that was the dynamic between us. But the experience, if only for what it reminded me, kinda made me sad.

So yeah, welcome home, Mandy.