You're So Memphis If...

You're So Memphis If...

Earlier today, I asked you guys to complete the sentence "You're so Memphis if...". You did, and it turns out, there are a ton of things that bind us together as a city that transcend geographic area.

Downtown Memphis, Tenn.

Here are the collected responses. If you've got more, list them in the comments and I'll add them to the post.

Food:

- You criticize every non-Memphis barbecue joint, regardless of how good it is. (submitted by @JDPeery)

- When you smell like barbecue smoke. (submitted by Kevin M.)

- The phrase "gas station sushi" makes you hungry instead of disgusted. (submitted by @thatswanlady)

- You serve eight kinds of vegetable at Thanksgiving dinner and not a single one is vegetarian. (submitted by @HitsyBitsy)

- Spaghetti isn't a full meal. It's a side item served with chicken or catfish.

- Mac'n'cheese is a vegetable.

- You own a full set of 12 Central Barbecue (or Young Ave. Deli) cups. Bonus points if you bring them out at dinner parties.

 

Driving and Navigation:

- You know the difference between E. Parkway S. and S. Parkway E. (submitted by Doug)

- You drive down one road and it changes names more than two times. (submitted by @JohnnySteph)

- You can explain how the city is mapped out. (submitted by Andrea O.)

- You believe that every lane is the turn lane. (submitted by John L.)

- You get disoriented in other cities cause they don't have the Mississippi river to give you a sense of direction. (submitted by Lisa M.)

- You have no idea what the bridges' proper names are because you've always called them "old bridge" and "new bridge".

- You get on the interstate and are either run into by someone going 40 mph or run over by someone going 90 mph. (submitted by Karen S.)

- Your metro area spans three states and you don't feel like you belong in any of them. (submitted by Charlie)

- You never use your car horn, no matter how bad someone else's driving is. (submitted by Dave)

 

Weather:

Winter, Memphis, Tenn.

- When you're 1500 miles away and you still use "Dave Brown" as shorthand for "the weatherman". (submitted by Candace C.)

- You start listening to school closings on the news the night before it snows.

- You wake up to snow in November and think "wait, it's not March yet." (submitted by @shannonrlittle)

- You know we only have three seasons: hot, raining and basketball.

- You think taking a stand is refusing to turn on your air conditioner in March, no matter how hot it is.

 

Politics:

- You know that the Ford dynasty is not a new model of American car. (submitted by @HistyBitsy)

- You hear "AC" and don't think "air conditioning". (submitted by @hstovallmemphis)

- You thought that there was only one mayor of Memphis because for most of your life, that was the case.

 

Sports:

FedExForum, Memphis, Tenn.

- You know that Tiger Nation is our nation, not theirs. (submitted by @bdvanderheyden)

- The pep band knows "Knuck if You Buck" and "Stuntin' Like My Daddy".

- You pull for Tiger Basketball and any SEC football team. (from @Kevinandsuji)

- You have no idea what the words to "I'm So Glad I Go to the U of M" are, but you sing along anyway. Bonus points if you didn't actually go to the U of M.

- You thought our first pro sports franchise was Saturday morning wrestling. (submitted by @kevinandsuji)

- You get excited about Tiger basketball billboards. (submitted by Andrea O.)

- You schedule your life around Tiger basketball. (submitted by Kaitlyn P.)

- You know that T.O.M. is not a name, but an acronym. (submitted by Rachel)

 

And in general:

- You meet someone from Memphis and the first question you ask is "Where did you go to high school?" (submitted by @The_RDJ)

- You still say "Memphis State". (submitted by Gil L.)

- You have more street cred than someone from Detroit. (submitted by Trisha G.)

- You couldn't think of anything to say after being asked to keep it clean. (submitted by Nathan P.)

- You have exceedingly low standards for what makes a neighborhood "sketchy". (submitted by @lbillingz)

- You've lived here your whole life and have never seen Graceland in person. (submitted by @clay1278)

- You can finish this sentence: "Get the dope out your veins..." (submitted by @kevinandsuji)

- You hear the number "201" in any context and cringe. (submitted by @vincentcakes)

- You run into the mayor, your high school best friend, your ex-boyfriend and your congressional representative in one grocery store trip.

- You ever tried to scare your friends by taking them to Voodoo Village. (submitted by Richard F.)

- Getting an email from Prince Mongo makes your month.

- You ever got out of school for Fair Day.

- If you ever ice skated at the Mall of Memphis. (submitted by Jenny M.)

- When you answer "How you doin?" with "How you doin'?". (submitted by Christy T.)

- When you get offended by any cover charge over $5. (submitted by Marjorie C.)

- If you read this blog. (submitted by Joel)

- You know that somewhere in Tom Lee Park is that flip flop you lost at Music Fest. (submitted by Rachel)

- If you ever blew off high school prom to go to Music Fest.

- If you say "might could" or "might should".

- If you've ever called JAM-JAM1. Bonus points if you referred to the time zone in Memphis as "Capt. D's Time."

 

 

Comments Make Us Happy

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Linda Yancy
If you know that Nancy Apple is not a variety of fruit but that a Ripley tomato is and if you know that Barbara Blue is not a color but a vocal power to be reckoned with.  If you know that  one of the best places to get chicken livers is Pirtles and you can get a grape drink there too.   
January 26, 2014 1:00pm
Bill Holloway
If you ever sledded at Waterworks
January 26, 2014 1:16pm
Tif56
If you know the Medicine Man had nothing to do with healthcare.      
January 26, 2014 2:48pm
Alex
When you go to Beale St. for your 21st, bachelorette (bachelor) party, wedding reception, or any other celebratory, party necessary moments in life.
January 26, 2014 3:19pm
jgrear
Thankyouverymuch
January 26, 2014 3:51pm
Joyce
Macys at Oak Court will forever be called Goldsmiths. 
January 26, 2014 4:24pm
Sandy
If you don't cringe at the word "humidity".
January 26, 2014 4:43pm
Krissy
388-8000 Also The Big One comes to mind when you hear flea market
January 26, 2014 4:54pm
amy
You are so memphis if you go straight to kroger as soon as snow flurries are announced.  
January 26, 2014 5:10pm
Austin K
You know it's called Memphis in mud, not Memphis in May.
January 26, 2014 6:05pm
Carol
When you got through the grocery line and the cashier says "what ya making?" And when you tell her, she says "My Momma used to make that but she used canned (whatever ingredient) instead!" When you are checking out at a retail shop the cashiers says "Where ya going to wear this?  And when you tell her...she says "You have fun now sweetie!"
January 26, 2014 6:20pm
Joseph Weaver
You can talk bad about the city,but when someone that's not from here does you get agitated! Welcome to Memphis!
January 26, 2014 6:53pm
Mary H
When you remember the number AND the jingle for the commercial for WMC TV's "Homework Hotline".
January 26, 2014 7:06pm
Terry L.
If you Raced on Summer on Sat night and went to Audubon Park on Sun.
January 26, 2014 8:53pm
David S
You know who Lance Russell was; and you are have heard of Baxter suits
January 26, 2014 8:57pm
Cinda B
If you ever had Raymond @ c.k's wait on you & ask if you had any friends to set him up with... 
January 26, 2014 9:54pm
Leigh Ann Barns
You know what 201 is without the street name!  
January 26, 2014 10:15pm
Mark B
You've vacationed at Maywood, the beach within reach
January 26, 2014 10:39pm
Mark B
You use the word slaw as a derrogatory statement
January 26, 2014 10:41pm
Marcus J
You don't understand why it's called "West Memphis."
January 26, 2014 10:48pm
Melissa Reyes
You're so Memphis if you refer to everybody by using the words main/mane,dog or playa. Example: "Wuz up main?";"Wuz up dog?" "Wuz up playa?"
January 26, 2014 11:06pm
virginia
You ever topped the hill on Ball Road in the back of a pickup truck with someone driving as fast as you dare.
January 26, 2014 11:25pm
216bret
...you know where Rick Dees started and remember when am56 was big pop rock listening, and the DIsco Duck
January 27, 2014 12:02am
Miranda
you have ever done the zombiewalk, fake blood and all
January 27, 2014 1:14am
Jonathan
If you went to the antenna! If you saw Al Green live... At the first gospel tabernacle. If you sat at the bus stop nodding your head to 666mafia as the spinners kept going on the lac even though the car had stopped for a red light. If you partied with dave silver.  Or his hot ass sister! If you went to Tammy's for your girlfriends b-day party. If you still love a Mary Jane set! If you still get lost trying to drive downtown.
January 27, 2014 4:25am
Shelley G.
If you spent summer's at adventure river, free music at the shell and you know it's called Mudfest not Musicfest...  
January 27, 2014 5:08pm
Iberg
Your phone no longer autocorrects Marc Gasol to "Mark Gasoline"
January 28, 2014 9:58pm
Holly
If you remember what station 93x was
January 28, 2014 10:55pm
Linda
The red light turns green and no one moves and you're the 3rd or 4th car in line and the light turns red again
January 29, 2014 2:11am
Kelli
You enjoyed going to Adventure River and Libertyland!
January 29, 2014 10:02am
Angelica Figures
If you jump at the sound of what might be fireworks or gunshots because you don't know which one it is and you stay inside to avoid it.
January 29, 2014 3:07pm
Evan
Your family is Jewish, but routinely eats pork barbecue. You got ladyfingers from the bakery at Seessel's on Poplar and Perkins. You remember when Richard Ransom yelled "CLEAN UP!" on Channel 5 news. All directions start with "Take Poplar..." If a friend or family member goes to Nashville, you give them a shopping list from Trader Joe's. "Hurricane Elvis" wasn't actually a hurricane, but things did get pretty ugly. Pancho's cheese dip. Nothing else comes close. JAM-JAM1 for time and temperature. 681-2020 for movie listings. Fleming Fine Furniture. The Watson's girl. You slam on your brakes when you see the "GERMANTOWN CITY LIMITS" sign. Jungle Juice was the carton of sugar water you got with school lunch, not the highly alcoholic party drink. It doesn't contain any juice. You brag to out-of-town friends about the barbecue, the Grizzlies, the blues, FedEx, the Redbirds, and the murder rate. You were surprised to find out that CK's didn't exist in other cities. You went shopping at the Seessel's (Schnucks, Kroger) across from Clark Tower and had your ice cream melt because you were waiting for a freight train. You complain constantly about not having a Trader Joe's, a Container Store, a Nordstrom, a Publix, a Cheesecake Factory, or an IKEA
January 29, 2014 3:26pm
Laura Sullivan
…your favorite words of childhood ended with "this is J.C. Levy. Keep dialin' and smilin'. Bye bye now. "
January 29, 2014 5:53pm
Chuck laminack
If you crave a Huey burger at least once a month
January 29, 2014 6:12pm
Kristin
Corey B. Trotz is the way to go...call 683-7000.
January 29, 2014 8:34pm
Kate
If you eat BBQ nachos at least once a month  
January 31, 2014 12:30am
mariam osman
if you can easily finish this jingle...NST is the way to go, call 683 7000...
January 31, 2014 2:22am
Debbie
You remember "Big John" Grisanti greeting you at your table at his restaurant. When he joined Weight Watchers he put WW selections on his menu,
February 1, 2014 1:37am
karol b
Coletta's pizza and the Summer Twin Drive-in
February 2, 2014 9:00pm
Elaine Riley
You parked on Sweeny Road with your parents to watch the planes take off and land. You got scared watching movies hosted by "Sivad" on Friday night. Talked to an unknown person between the busy signals on the phone, and referred to it as the "Beep Line" Watched big tanker trucks and jeep loads of millitary men riding the roads in your neighborhood after Martin Luther King was killed warning Memphians that marshal law was in effect and the mid south was under curfew. Went skating on Brooks Road. Went to the "Place Across the Street" nightclub before it became "Dannys"on Winchester Rd. Went to "Irelands Steak and Bisquets" on Brooks Road. Went to the "Saloon", "Bad Bobs", or "Vapers" on Brooks Road. Ate dinner at the "Loft" restaurant on Mt. Moriah. Hung out on Saturday and Sunday watching the line of cars go by at Audubon Park after dancing the nights before at the "Underground" at Lamar and Winchester.    
February 14, 2014 10:41am
Helen
You remember staying up watching classic old movies after the news and MASH went off on Channel 3.  Charlie Chan, Vincent Price, Bob Hope & Bing Crosby, Shirley Temple, etc.   You vividly remember The "Ice Storm", February 1994. When Raleigh Skateland was THE place to be on a Friday or Saturday night.  
February 14, 2014 12:02pm
Dee Green
if the main MEAT at your cookout is RAG BOLOGNA if SLAW on a sandwich is standard fare if still wear a jherri curl
March 14, 2014 3:59pm
J. Taylor
If you know the words to "Trigga Man" and can "gangsta walk". Extra points if you are from South Memphis.
April 3, 2014 12:02pm
Suzan Smith
I am from a small town near Memphis and graduate from Memphis State. Love this -- made my day. I did live and tought high school  in Memphis for about ten years. My small town has a simiar  "if you're from ?" and I love it.  I would like to add "do you remember Tommy Burke and the Counts - "Stormy  Weather"? Thanks again for the fun.                                     
May 13, 2014 6:40pm
Maude bryeans
You are ao Memphis when you can explain why the interstate does not actually go around the city!
June 4, 2014 9:55am
Ela E
If you ever hung out at Pat's Pizza and watched footage of Elvis hanging in the parking lot before he was famous.  If you know where Wild Bill's and Alex's are.  If you know Wanda Wilson. Love me some Memphis :)
June 12, 2014 11:48am
Janet
You rode the carousel at the Hickory Ridge Mall. You still refer to the Mall of Memphis as the Mall of Murder and you ice skated there and hung out in the Gold Mine arcade upstairs from the ice rink. You know Memphis had a USFL team called the Memphis Showboats.
June 13, 2014 5:11pm
JM
If you've ever had the Memphis crud. 
June 14, 2014 12:45am
sammyp
Okay, this one goes waaaaay back...you actually remember Dixiemart and Corondolet ("...the stores of tomorrow are here todayyyy!) Corondolet was on Summer where the big AutoZone is. Dixiemart was out on Lamar somewhere I think. Oh, and ZAYRE (on Summer where the Big Lots is next door to Summer Shopping Center). Okay, and how about the trampoline place that was across across the street! Alright, alright...I'll stop!
June 17, 2014 3:49pm
david
ok memis is great but what is there to do if you dont drink smoke or dance?
June 17, 2014 8:11pm