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Dear Awdry

Dear Awdry:

I've been reading these ancestry questions and I have my own...

My daddy was from ohio and married my mama who was from South dakota, They raised me in Miami, Biloxi,(New Orleans in the weekends cause my daddy was an artist and a magician), and then in Virginia. After I lived all over the country as an adult and divoced all my husbands, (just call me zsa zsa, but without the money), I moved back to New Orleans and lived for nine years making it my true adopted, all my own little home until Katrina shot me out of a cannon. I know that doesn't make me a Yat, but if you have Yankee parents who raise you in the South, what the hell is that?

I'm the only one in the family with a southern accent but most southerners can't figure me out either. No body in N.O ever said anything to me cause we all sound different,(ah peace at last), but now that I'm up in KC people pick on me alla time. "YOu don't SOUND like you're from New Orleans and you don't sound like you're this and this and this". I'm having an identity crisis for crissakes!

I wish I was back on Dauphine in the Bywaters where I was happy...

Robin

 

Dear Robin, oops! I mean Zsa Zsa Without No Money.

Miss Awdry knows just what you mean. Everybody's calling you "Robin", but you want to be called "Zsa Zsa Without No Money". Maybe try just initials. See If you can get everybody to call you "ZZWNM" (pronounced "zwinnem"?). And I ain't sure you'd like that any better.

But gettin' back to your problem about where you're from. Since ya' Daddy was from Ohio and your Mamma was from Mississippi; they probably did have some problems even before you was born. I mean havin' a "mixed marriage" 'n all. Then you was raised in Miami and Biloxi with New Orleans on weekends. Well, the weekends was probably the easy part 'cause you could stay in one place. But durin' the week runnin' back and forth to Miami and Biloxi was probably very tiring on everybody, especially all the moms in ya' car pool.

Now I don't quite get this Virginia thing. How come ya' stopped to live in Virginia when ya' coulda' just come straight here to New Orleans. Guess it was kinda' like a lay-over when they loose your luggage and ya' gotta' wait for it to catch up.

Well, lets see now. You were here for nine years in Bywater until the storm made you evacuate to Kansas City, where nobody can figure out what you are. You know, here's your problem. You don't want to be where you're at. You want to be where you ain't at, here in New orleans. What you're encountering (and thats a big word for Miss Awdry) in Kansas City isn't anything but pitter-patter conversion that usually goes right through us. But, in your case, you feel like it's buzzing all around you and sinking deep into your Miami-Biloxi soul. That's because you don't want to be there. Like I tell everybody else; New Orleans is not down for the count. There are weather risks everywhere. You know what happens in Kansas doesn't alwas stay in Kansas. Lots'a times it's blown a mile away.

Come back home Zsa Zsa With No Money. Whe're all here in da' same boat with the same little paddle.

Tonight when a big chunk of the whole country is freezing; the temperature here is dipping into the forties, and that's the big news locally right now. Ya' ain't gotta' get back to Bywater just yet, but you could stay someplace here and do what everybody else is doin'. Goin' ahead with it no matter what. Miss Awdry knows.

Awdry

 
Dear Awdry:

My wife is native New Orleans, in the Army and feeling like a lost child in the state of Texas... The only thing that will make her feel at home is the Christmas Mr. Bingle... I can't find him anywhere. I must find Mr. Bingle for her or else she will be very hard to live with in this "Yankee" state. Can you please help me. I truly have looked everywhere.

Dear Chuck and Sandy:

Dillard's Department Stores has taken over all of the Maison Blanche department stores. The giant Mr. Bingle from the Canal Street store will be out front at the Dillard's store at Lakeside Shopping Center, and on Saturday's, a real - life Mr. Bingle will be at the Dillard's Stores giving away mints so you'll have nice breath to visit Santa.

The cuddly Mr. Bingle dolls will be available soon (the first or two in November) at all New Orleans Dillard's stores.

Mr. Bingle has been the Christmas mascot for Maison Blanche since 1948. He was the idea of M. B. advertising director, Lewis "Doonie" Schwarz, Jr., and brought to life by artist Emile F. Alline, Sr.

Note: The Canal St. site of Maison Blanche is being converted into a Ritz Carlton Hotel with a one floor mall called, "Maison Blanche Gallery of Shops".

Awdry

Dear Awdry:

My sister in Alabama wants to know the correct spelling for the phrase "Let the good times roll". I had a close guess but I want to be sure. Can you help?

Thanks, Anotheryat.

Dear Anotheryat:

To answer your question about spelling "Let the Good Times Roll" in Cajun:

The most common close guesses, like you see on tee shirts and stuff "Le bon temps roule", has a little mistake and a big mistake.

The little mistake is usually the spelling. Cajun in this case true to it's French origin, has lots of letters (at the ends of words) that you don't pronounce.

The big mistake is that they leave out a whole word, "Laissez", the Cajun equivalent of "Let".

So, the whole phrase in Cajun is: "Laissez les bons temps rouler".

When I was little we lived in Mid City, Algiers Point, Little Woods and out at West End. I guess you can tell I don't have a very good Cajun accent.

Tell your sister in Alabama to listen to DJ - Kateri Jaeger on radio station WSLA - 1560 A.M., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for some true Cajun information and music. There's a couple of Cajun songs with "Laissez les bons temps rouler" in the title, and even more with it somewhere in the song.

Awdry

Dear Awdry:

I am coming to visit some folks in Thibodaux and need advice. I am only 1/2 southern on my mother's side (she was from SC). The other half is - Gasp...Yankee from Connecticut. I do not want to make any faux pas so to speak while visiting. Any assistance you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Susan

Dear Susan:

I can understand your dilemma- but you have slipped in under the Connecticut Yankee statute. Mark Twain, a great southern author who spent a lot of time in Nawlins, wrote a story about, we think, one of your ancestors- "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." The general feeling is that if ole Mark could identify enough with y'all, then y'all can't be all bad. So, you're at least a rung up from most yankees.

Now, as to Fau-Paws, pretty much if you just agree with others by saying, "Yeah, you rite!", greet everyone with "Where y'at?", and (since you're a woman) call everyone "Dawlin'!", you'll get along okay. Check out Yatbonics for more translations.

Hope this helps,
Awdry

Dear Awdry:

I just surfed my way over  to your site and I know that you're best at giving advice on love and such, but given that you are the only advice giver on the y'at site, I thought I'd ask you this question:

Is y'atness an inheritable trait? If so, does it only pass through on the mother's side like being Jewish?

Or, do both your parents have to be a y'at for you to be a true y'at.  I've known all my life that my mother and all of her family were y'ats, but I never thought I could be one too!  Is it possible to be only 1/2 ya't?

These are burning questions that may require therapy!

Sincerely,
Hopin I'mnottay'at

Dear Mr. or Ms Hopin I'mnottay'at:

My aunt Clara went to school with some I'mnottayat's, Agnes and Agatha.   That was along time ago at St. Stevens over on Napoleon Ave.  She told me that the girls were called by their nicknames, "Agie". . .   Agie and Agie Imottayat.

This was not nearly as confusing as it sounds, because there were not as many people back then (around 1906); and of course, there were only two Imnottayat's.

You got a lot of questions here, so I've taken the liberty to divide them into two groups.

a) - Yat children usually don't inherit much; maybe a little house and its contents.  You probably don't need a layer or anything; unless of course there's a boat.

b) - What passes through mostly on your Mama's side of the family would be how her kitchen smells.  You can really tell when you're away for a while, that your Mama's kitchen probably smells (good and bad stuff) allot like her Mama's kitchen.

c) - There is a general rule here:  If your Mama and Daddy are both Yats and where y'all used to live was within walking or bicycle distance of a sno-ball stand, then everybody from that family is a Yat, no exceptions.

a) - I know lots of Jewish Yats.  And for some, it's difficult, because you really can't fit the name of an outboard motor or car club on them little bitty hats.

b) - I guess there could 1/2 Yats or part-time Yats.   Like if you build a new shot-gun double with no aluminum or vinyl siding.  And now they got all then people who go to Colorado or Biloxi for Mardi Gras.

c) - You don't have to be a Yat if you don't wanna be:

Awdry

Dear Awdry:

I'm looking for the best place to take my girlfriend ...  to break up with her.  My mama's first husband told me that he would take her to Rocky & Carlo's for 2 reasons.

Awdry, you think Rocky's is the place to do it?

Yatadatadoo

Dear Mr. Yatadatadoo:

When I was little we knew some Yatadatadoos over on the West Bank, almost in Algiers Point. Their son-in-law, Malcom, had kind of a shoe repair shop.  As far as Rocky and Carlo’s goes, it depends what time you go.  The macaroni and cheese is always good, but late at night it might stick to your face if your girl friend throws some at you.  Rocky’s is a good place for any ocassion, especially after wedding rehersals and stuff, but for your situation why don’t you try one of those gentlemen night clubs on the West Bank.  You probably won’t have to say nothin.


Awdry

Dear Awdry:

I went to Loyola for 6 years (isn't that normal for college?)  and moved back home to Texas in 1985.  Now I have a family and want to come back on a vacation.   My problem is my wife doesn't want to go, on account of she knows my girlfriend and I used to go skinny dipping in the pool on top of the Bourbon Orleans and she thinks I'll be thinking of that while we're there.  What should I do?  Avoid St. Louis Street or stop by the Takee Outee for a beer on the way there.

Rob

Dear Rob:

If you was swimmin nekid at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel, when you were at Loyola, you musta had a lotta money for a college student. Now you are out workin for thirteen years with more money than that. So how come you are worried about what your wife wants to do on vacation? Looka, just come by yourself. If you are a doctor or somethin you all meet lotsa nice girls to go swimmin at the expensive hotel of your choice. Domilise’s Sandwich Shop and Bar is still there on Annunciation Street, but the only Takee Outee left that I know of is way out on the Chef Menteur Hwy.

Awdry

Dear Awdry:

You know, it's hard enough living in the city, dealing with all the stuff, but recently there has been an increase in the mental turmoil produced by city life.  Of course, what I refer to is those people who moved out of the city, to Metarie or Slidell or Mandeville; seems like whenever there is a horrific crime over there, some local always says that "you'd expect that in New Orleans, but not over here."  How come they can get away with saying that, huh?  Geez, I mean, what can you say.

Dear Mudhead:

It must be really hard having a name like Mudhead. There was this guy that ran a motel on Airline Hwy. called Half–A–Head. I didn’t know if his name was really Half–A–Head or if people called him that cause he really did have just half a head. So unless there’s somethin wrong with your head, I guess your name is Mudhead, and livin uptown and all, the kids around the neighborhood probably call you Mr. Mudhead. That must be bad enough, but I guess you might be a lady; and if they call you Miss Mudhead, that’s even worse.

Awdry

Dear Awdry:

I have a problem. I have two brothers. One brother attended Tulane and the other brother was just sent to the electric chair for murder. My mother died from insanity when I was just three years old. My two sisters are prostitutes and my father was just arrested for shoplifting. I'm recovering from an automobile accident, and will be in traction for 6 weeks.

Recently I met a girl who was just released from a reformatory where she served time for armed robbery. I'm in love with her and want to get married. My question is this, with all my problems, should I wait to propose to my girlfriend?

Sincerely,
Fighting Tiger

Dear Fighting Tiger:

Yes, but if I were you I wouldn't tell your girlfriend about your brother attending Tulane.

Awdry

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