"Proud Redneck" and "Yankee Transplant"

I have never received so much passionate mail before! It seems my column which ran on January 7 in the White County News and the Towns County Sentinel and the one that followed it, has caused quite heated emotions. Here are the questions and answers. See what you think.

Thank You Notes
Dear Lula Belle,
I read an article on the computer the other day that you don't have to send a thank- you note to someone if you open their gift in front of them. Is this true? My grandmother always expects a thank- you note and we always open our gifts in front of her. --Grateful Granddaughter

Dear Granddaughter,
Oh , my Lordy! Whoever was giving that advice must have been from above the Mason- Dixon line and they just don't know better. Thank you notes are sweet, endearing and loving. How wonderful is it to go to the mailbox and see real mail? It is a treasure. Your grandmother probably does not expect it as much as she enjoys reading a special handwritten note from you. Who cares if she saw you open the gift or not? Sending a thank- you note is like sending a hug. There is no "wrong" time to send one.

(Well, that sparked a small flood of mail from some of my northern friends who felt very offended by my Mason Dixon Line comment. It was a joke, really, but some people were offended and I felt really sorry about it. One letter in particular I thought was interesting, so I printed it the next week.) Here it is:

January 14, 2010
Dear Lula Belle,
I moved to North Georgia from Michigan about 15 years ago. I have met some really nice local people who have been here all their lives, but the majority of people here are rednecks who have absolutely no manners. I feel the comment you made about being above the Mason Dixon Line was out of line. --Yankee Transplant

Dear Transplant,
Oh, me. I believe I got more letters about this than the gay question I answered last year. I have several letters like yours from friends from up north who expressed feelings similar to yours. I know it does not matter where you come from. There are gracious people in every corner of the world. I am not one to group people into stereotypes and I am awfully sorry that I made fun of the on-line columnist because she was from above the Mason Dixon. I implied the columnist didn't know what she was talking about concerning thank you notes. She has a right to her opinion and it has nothing to do with where she is from. Who knows, maybe she was right that you don't have to send thank you notes to people if you opened their gifts in front of them. I disagree, but that's just me. I still believe thank-you notes are like hugs that come out of the mail box and there is no wrong time to send one.

(Well, it seems I have started a civil war. I have locals upset with the "Yankee Transplant" and transplants offended that I called them Yankees. (Which I did not, by the way. That is how that person signed their name and I only addressed him or her by "Transplant.") But that is neither here nor there. It simply does not matter. The Yankee Transplant has a right to their opinion and I have a right to mine and you have a right to yours. It is OK to have different opinions. It makes us a unique culture.)

I recieved a great letter today from "Proud Redneck" I wish I could run it next week because it is funny but enlightening; but I am afraid we must move on. There are many other things we need to talk about and think about. Let's let this one go for now. If you feel the need to vent, please leave a comment. Let it out; but be respectful. Some of my biggest fans are children in the local schools, so keep it clean. I have never allowed comments before and never advertised this blog, so we will just give it a try.

Thanks for reading!
Warmest Wishes,
Lula Belle

Dear Readers,

It is hard to believe I have been your advice columnist for over a year now. I have enjoyed receiving letters from you. I have been flipping through my scrap book and came across some rather funny headlines: "Boogers and Boyfriends," "Couch Potatoes, Worry Warts, and Turkeys," and "Unwanted Facial Hair," just to name a few. But most columns were heartfelt and sweet. The community of North Georgia is made up of very special, hard working people. Sometimes folks just need to reach out and I am honored and humbled they share their challenges with me.

Keep sending your questions and check the White County News each week to see if your question has been answered. You can mail letters to: Ask Lula Belle P.O. Box 311 Cleveland, GA 30528 or e mail them to asklulabelle@windstream.net

Warmest Wishes!
Lula Belle

Lula Belle's first book is finished!

"How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself." --Publilius Syrus

We all have made mistakes on our journey. We have made bad decisions, said the wrong things, embarrassed ourselves, and even hurt other people. When we mess up, we should have a time to be remorseful and when warranted, we should try to fix things or apologize. During that time, we should be reflective and thoughtful. We should seek to learn a better way for the future so we do not repeat our mistakes. After that period of time, it is time to let it go. It becomes time to forgive yourself.

If you hold on to your wrong doings and continue to punish yourself, you are feeling sorry for yourself. Life is moving forward but you are stuck in one place. Eventually, you will begin dragging the people around you down. Your loved ones may reach out to pull you out of your wallowing but the weight of your self pity will bring an emotional strain on them.

Forgiveness is freedom. Learn that it is OK to forgive yourself. If you have hurt someone, throwing a pity party for yourself will not make them feel better. Changing your life and doing something positive for the greater good will.

Dear Lula Belle,
Who are you and where do your questions come from? -Curious

Dear Curious,
Honey, I am Lula Belle, giver of advice from the hills of North Georgia. I am simply a mother of five children juggling what life throws at me the best I can. I figure if I can survive raising teenagers while navigating through the terrible twos, that my two cents must be worth something! I have seen many miracles on my particularly interesting journey in life. I have plowed myself out of the stickiest of briar patches. So don't you go thinking that just because I am cute that I haven't had my share of life experiences.

As for the questions in my column, they come from folks just like you. Tell all your friends seeking advice to write to me! Check out the White County News each week and see if your question has been answered!

Warmest Wishes,
Lula Belle
P.O. Box 311
Cleveland, Georgia
30528

Need adice? Then ask Lula Belle by sending your questions to: asklulabelle@windstream.net. My column is published in the White County News weekly. Check it out. You may just find the answer you have been looking for.

Thought for the day:

"Fear is that little dark room where negatives are developed."
-- Michael Pritchard