Ex-San Franciscan asking Oklahoma classmate's forgiveness (Ryan, May: transplants, living in, retirement)

[friscogal]

We recently moved to the Florida Panhandle from geographically south Naples, FL to suddenly find that we are living in an area with a pleasant southern drawl. Lived in southern Maryland, Northern Virginia where folks sounded more or less like us. Here we hear Mam, Sir,Yahl, Miss with my first name, Mr Lee, (my husband) etc.
The above explains why I recalled my Oklahoma classmate who suddenly appeared in our San Francisco, California classroom in January 1946. The Principal introduced him to us, and our 7th grade homeroom teacher, Mrs Ryan, took it from there. His name was Otis-Neville Weatherspoon (name altered) and there was a hyphen, meaning that he was called by both names. Mrs Ryan asked him if we should call him Otis or Otis-Neville. Our new Oklahoma classmate grinned widely and in a totally weird accent said "Yahl can call me either or both names". The boys guffawed and we girls tittered. Nobody, but nobody, sounded like Otis except dummies in movie cartoons. And his name? We had a Billy and a Bobbly, a Ken, a Norm, a Tommy, a Mike, but an Otis, let alone Otis-Neville. We were 12 years old and oh so rude and thoughtless. Bobbly, the class clown, blurted out, "Does your Dad talk funny like you?" Otis, laughed, and said, "Ya, mah dahd talks funny, cuz he's from London, England and has an English accent". Later that day Mrs Ryan gave us a stern talking to in Otis-Neville's absence, but it did no good we got even meaner to him, especially the girls.
And so it went all day, which must have been the most miserable day of Otis-Neville's life.
Forgive me and your California classmates. Maybe Karma has taken care of us.

[Blue Skies]

I hope Otis sees this post.

[bus man]

This incident happened 72 years ago, and the OP still remembers it clearly. Obviously it made a big impact on her. OP, maybe it will help if you imagine Otis-Neville living a happy, successful, joyful life. Imagine that he married, had kids, had a successful career, and is now enjoying his retirement. And, imagine that he used his experience in California to learn to roll with the punches and not let others get the better of him.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by bus man

This incident happened 72 years ago, and the OP still remembers it clearly. Obviously it made a big impact on her. OP, maybe it will help if you imagine Otis-Neville living a happy, successful, joyful life. Imagine that he married, had kids, had a successful career, and is now enjoying his retirement. And, imagine that he used his experience in California to learn to roll with the punches and not let others get the better of him.

You might be surprised..

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by friscogal

We recently moved to the Florida Panhandle from geographically south Naples, FL to suddenly find that we are living in an area with a pleasant southern drawl. Lived in southern Maryland, Northern Virginia where folks sounded more or less like us. Here we hear Mam, Sir,Yahl, Miss with my first name, Mr Lee, (my husband) etc.
The above explains why I recalled my Oklahoma classmate who suddenly appeared in our San Francisco, California classroom in January 1946. The Principal introduced him to us, and our 7th grade homeroom teacher, Mrs Ryan, took it from there. His name was Otis-Neville Weatherspoon (name altered) and there was a hyphen, meaning that he was called by both names. Mrs Ryan asked him if we should call him Otis or Otis-Neville. Our new Oklahoma classmate grinned widely and in a totally weird accent said "Yahl can call me either or both names". The boys guffawed and we girls tittered. Nobody, but nobody, sounded like Otis except dummies in movie cartoons. And his name? We had a Billy and a Bobbly, a Ken, a Norm, a Tommy, a Mike, but an Otis, let alone Otis-Neville. We were 12 years old and oh so rude and thoughtless. Bobbly, the class clown, blurted out, "Does your Dad talk funny like you?" Otis, laughed, and said, "Ya, mah dahd talks funny, cuz he's from London, England and has an English accent". Later that day Mrs Ryan gave us a stern talking to in Otis-Neville's absence, but it did no good we got even meaner to him, especially the girls.
And so it went all day, which must have been the most miserable day of Otis-Neville's life.
Forgive me and your California classmates. Maybe Karma has taken care of us.

If you know his real identity, and he's still alive, why don't you just write him a letter or send him an email? It would probably make his day.

If he's on Facebook you could message him. Like most Okies I know, he'll probably receive the apology in kind and laugh it off and tell you that it's no big deal. Okies are a rowdy lot, but we're generally pretty laid back on these kind of issues.

As for Oklahomans talking funny, I always thought everyone else sounded funny. My momma always would say to transplants and Yankee folks (jokingly of course!), "We don't talk funny, ya'll do."

[Screenwriter70]

I'm glad you like Southern drawls. I find nothing pleasant or cute about them. All I hear is redneck.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by Screenwriter70

I'm glad you like Southern drawls. I find nothing pleasant or cute about them. All I hear is redneck.

Well hon, bless yer little heart.

[janellen]

Originally Posted by Screenwriter70

I'm glad you like Southern drawls. I find nothing pleasant or cute about them. All I hear is redneck.

Seriously? You come to the Oklahoma forum to denigrate the way they talk? Are you always this rude, or is today a special occasion?

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by janellen

Seriously? You come to the Oklahoma forum to denigrate the way they talk? Are you always this rude, or is today a special occasion?

I like the way YOU talk..........


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjfd4hnE-PI

[TexasRedneck]

Originally Posted by Screenwriter70

I'm glad you like Southern drawls. I find nothing pleasant or cute about them. All I hear is redneck.

Mah ma always told me ah'd know when ah met an idjit.

She wuz right........