1. You’ll Almost Start To Miss The Roll Tide/War Eagle Rivalry
There was something strangely comforting about being able to spot an enemy based on whether or not they were wearing orange and blue or houndstooth.
2. You Will Go Through Serious Grapico Withdraws
For some reason the most delicious soft drink in the world is not super popular in most parts of the country. You might want to place a bulk order now.
3. Everyone Else Thinks Moon Pies Are Just Kid Food Junk
And not what you know them to be—the most delicious dessert in the world. It will be your official responsibility to show them the light.
4. And They’ll Think The Idea Of White BBQ Sauce Is Just Wrong
Until you trick them into eating some Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q sauce, and they totally fall in love with it.
5. Your Gallette’s Yellowhammer Cups Are No Longer Company Cups
You may have to invest in some better dinnerware, because these plastic cups no longer possess the kind of charm they did in Alabama.
6. No Vacation Will Ever Compare To Family Trips To The Gulf Shore
You’ll always know Alabama beaches are the best beaches… even if no one else believes you.
7. No One Will Know What You’re Talking About If You Call It A Hosepipe
Because literally everyone else calls it a garden hose.
8. Everyone Will Constantly Underestimate Your Intelligence
Yeah… guess that’s why Alabama is the home of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and a bunch of rocket scientists.
9. Any Summer That’s Not An Alabama Summer Will Seem Downright Mild
Oh, the humidity isn’t making the air as thick as soup? You don’t have to blast the air conditioning all day and all night for five months? Well, that’s nice.
10. But An Inch Of Snow Won’t Get You Out Of Work
Yeah, people will actually expect you to drive in more snow than that.
11. People Will Think You’re Nuts If You Go Outside During Tornado Warnings
Just because you’re used to watching for funnel clouds from your front porch doesn’t mean most people feel comfortable with that.
12. People Will Ask You To Repeat A Bunch Of Words Like You’re A Parrot
Because for some reason an Alabama accent is just that fascinating to the rest of the world.
13. You’ll Never Find A BBQ Joint That’s Quite As Good As Your Local Favorite
Between Saw’s, Dreamland, Archibald’s, and the dozens of other amazing BBQ restaurants you’re used to, you’ll never find somewhere else that quite measures up.
14. You’ll Long For A Decent Meat-n-Three Restaurant
Where you can get meat and three sides of vegetables that aren’t even close to being vegetarian for ridiculously low prices.
15. People Just Aren’t Quite As Polite Outside Alabama
Using “sir” or “ma’am” to address every stranger isn’t quite as commonplace anywhere else. In fact, you might get a few odd looks—especially if the person you’re addressing isn’t your elder.
16. Not Everyone Drinks Iced Tea The Right Way
There are actually people who drink, if you can even imagine, unsweetened tea. And they claim to like it that way.
17. Grits Aren’t A Common Breakfast Food Everywhere
But for some inexplicable reason everyone eats that nasty mush called oatmeal.
18. You’ll Miss Hearing Your Neighbor Say, “You Don’t Say?”
Because there’s no clearer invitation for a good gossip session than that, and you’re not really sure how everyone else lets you know they’re down to share rumors about the lady down the block or the guy from church.
19. No One Will Believe You When You Tell Them Where Mardi Gras Started
You’ll insist it started in Mobile, and they’ll insist it started in New Orleans, and you’ll go on and on like that until someone looks it up.
20. Using A Turn Signal Actually Means You’re Going To Turn
Imminently. Not several minutes from when you turn it on… but in several seconds.
21. Making Great Fried Okra Is A Lost Art
It turns out a lot of people like their vegetables to be healthy, so you’ll have to fry up your okra at home.
22. Everyone Thinks It’s Strange When You Bring RC Cola To The Party
When people ask you to “bring coke” it doesn’t mean any kind of soft drink.
23. There Are Things To Do On Sunday Morning That Don’t Involve Church
But after living in Alabama for a little while, it’s a hard habit to break.
24. The Rest Of The World Needs A Grammar Lesson
No, “y’all” isn’t necessarily plural, but “all y’all” is always plural. Just because it’s not conventional doesn’t mean there aren’t rules.
25. No One Plays Six Degrees Of Taylor Hicks
Actually, it’s fair to say most of the rest of the country has kind of forgotten about him entirely. So they don’t really care that your mom’s hairdresser went to high school with him.
26. You Don’t Have To Plan Your Life Around The Iron Bowl
You’ll probably continue to anyway out of habit, but it’s nice to know everything else in the world won’t shut down. Stores stay open. Babies continue to be born. The Earth keeps spinning.
27. You’ll Have To Explain Why Birmingham Is Cool
It’ll be a lot of, “No, really, it’s not dead anymore. Yes, there’s actually stuff to do there now.”
28. Sometimes You’ll Miss A Certain Special Butt
Good old Vulcan.
29. But Not Nearly As Much As You Miss Your Community
Because once you’re friends in Alabama, you’re friends for life. Even if you like different football teams.
30. You’ll Never Stop Cranking Up The Radio For “Sweet Home Alabama”
It’s just that now your eyes might get a little misty as you’re belting it out.
What do you miss most about Alabama? Tell us in the comments below!
