Post for 23 June 2021
I admit that I don’t agree with parts of Southern Culture, but it’s more important to disagree and still get along. That can show the gems from the people you disagree with. Today’s pictures show some of what I saw.
One of them is about food. As previous posts show, I’ve eaten extremely simple on this ride, like cheese wrapped in a tortilla followed with dry fruit for dessert. My drink for the meal is similarly simple–warm water (almost hot) from my water-bottles. Part of the reason for the, extremely, simple meal is that I’m cheap, but another part is that I cycle on roads that are small because they’re safer. Small roads go through small towns, and small towns don’t have much for groceries any more. Dollar Stores are often the only grocery store available for many miles.
Back to June 23, I stumbled across and all-you-can-eat Southern Buffett. I’m burning about 2-3 times as many calories as normal, so an an all-you-can-eat buffet has a new meaning. I didn’t gorge myself, but I enjoyed every bite in ways that can only happen on a 2,000 mile ride. The meal was even better since I didn’t recognize most of it. Just like my favorite bike trails, my favorite meals are usually the ones I haven’t tried before.
Today’s song goes back to a gem of Southern Culture. On the morning of June 23, I woke up at Lorretta Lynn’s Ranch, in my tent. Billbord.com describes her work:
When you hear the music of Loretta Lynn, you undoubtedly are listening to one of the most traditional artists in the history of Country Music. Nobody will argue that fact. … (But) She wasn’t scared to tackle subjects such as birth control, motherhood and cheating husbands in a way that had never been done before.
Considering that, imagine you’re living in the 1970s, even or especially if you weren’t born then. You tune a radio to a Country Music station. You’d likely hear a song like Stand by Your Man. That song wouldn’t be successful today, but it was back then.
In the 1970s, men had even more control. That included when his wife would have kids since, in the 70s, birth control was primarily for men. The Pill was new and many forces in society spoke out against it. Continuing with an imaginary trip listening to Country Music in the 70s, you listen to a few more songs. They’re also traditional, but then, you hear this song by Lorretta Lynn:
That song is a historical Southern Gem. Our country needs more of those gems–in all parts of our country. But for now, here’s what I saw on June 23.
