Lawrence Daniel Devoe

Yankee by Birth, Southern by Choice Lawrence Daniel Devoe

Yankee by Birth, Southern by Choice is the account of Northerner Lawrence Daniel Devoe's discovery of the Southern United States and his journey to become a full-fledged Southerner. Starting from home in Chicago when he was a teenager, Lawrence and his grandparents took a road trip to Louisiana so Lawrence could meet his grandfather's relatives. Lawrence returned to the South two more times-once when he was drafted as an Army medical officer and sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, and again, after he finished his formal training, when he accepted a position in Augusta, Georgia, at the Medical College of Georgia. Following the path of his gradual transition from Yankee to Southerner, the author shares his observations about discovering the many wonders of Southern living, adapting to endless summers, developing a taste for Southern cuisine, marrying a native Southerner, learning the language of the South, and becoming part of a Southern family. The steps along this personal journey provide the basis for the author's advice and recommendations to fellow Northerners who are considering a visit or a permanent move to the South. Chapters in Yankee by Birth, Southern by Choice: Part I: Becoming a Son of the SouthBeginnings: Grandpa Smith My First Trip to the SouthUncle Sam Sends Me to GeorgiaThe Road Leads Back to Georgia Marrying into a Southern Family-AgainThere Is Nothing Like a Colonial Dame!Homecoming and Fish Fries Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Spoke to MeFootball FeverSoutherners and Their GunsPart II: A Brief Guide to Living in the SouthSurviving Southern SummersLearning to Speak SouthernA Yankee's Guide to Southern FilmsSouthern CuisineWhat Southerners Like to DrinkSouthern MannersShould You, Too, Consider Becoming a Southerner