Are you a blue state or a red state?
Huh? Politics?
No. No. Sorry.
I am referring to your colloquialism for soda.
Said another way, do you say, “But mahm, I wanna a pahp” or “Would y’all like a coke”?
Pop = blue.
Coke = red.
Years ago, family friends relocated to Georgia and opened a restaurant. They frequently offered one employee a pop. The pizza boy politely declined. Months later, the Northern transplants included props in the invitation to which the southern native let out a sigh exclaiming, “All this time I thought you were offering me drugs.”
Sadly, the generic usage Coke is gaining traction. Last week I ordered a Diet Coke yet, sadly, received a Diet Pepsi. Not the same. At. All.
Now, I mindfully ask, “What kinda pahp do you have?”
For example, in a former life Pepsi served as the official beverage sponsor of the company for which I worked. My contact sent me gobs and gobs of certificates for product. Twenty-four packs. After amassing over two dozen of them I decided to host a party.
The Pepsi Party!
“We have lots of mixers such as Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Diet Sierra Mist and Aquafina.”
“Is this party sponsored by Pepsi?”
“It is inspired by Pepsi.”
Pepsi not Pahp.
Which noun do you use?
Smooches!!
The Queen of Alyssaland
WRITING PROMPT:
So, in the spirit of dialect, slang, and turns of phrase, this week’s RemembeRED prompt is: Write a piece of creative non-fiction in which turns of phrase, dialect, slang, or colloquialisms feature prominently.
Choose ONE moment and explode it. Please, no laundry lists of phrases. This is a memoir, not the urban dictionary.
Let’s keep it to 400 words.
See you at the link-up on Tuesday!