Southern Youth

Mr Hippo had a delightful conversation of another of his co-workers last night, a not unattractive 22 year old woman whom he will henceforth refer to as Belle, in recognition of her Southern Heritage and upbringing.


Mr Hippo was lamenting the other day on what passes for southern youth in the form of man-boy, a ghetto gangsta poser, but his conversation with Belle gave him new hope.


Belle had just returned from Florida where she had attended the funeral of her beloved grandfather, a man of great honor who served with distinction under General Patton.


She shared with Mr Hippo the fact that she regretted that while in florida she had been unable to attend a concert of Lynyrd Skynyrd, one of her favorite bands, who was playing in the same city as the funeral


Since the original band had been dissolved following the tragic death of lead singer Ronnie Van Zandt in a horrible plane crash many years before Belle was even born, Mr Hippo, an ever curious Hippo asked how how she knew so much about the premier band of Southern rock.


Belle explained that her father was a big fan, and that she grew up listening to the greats of Southern rock.


No doubt she was soothed to sleep in her crib to the sweet sounds of such classics as Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird.


Belle admitted that while she does listen to rap and dance, she has a special place in her heart for the songs of her parents generation.


Mr Hippo himself has tried to instill a similar love of Southern Rock in his own children,.For example, on the drive back from the beach with his older daughter, during a break in her endless playing of Hanna Montanna hits, Mr Hippo took the opportunity to pop a casette into the car tape player and played one of Mr Hippos favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, "They call me the breeze"


Mr Hippo is pleased to relate that his daughter quite enjoyed the song.


But getting back to the conversation with Belle, Mr Hippo told her that he himself had seen the original Lynyrd skynyrd in concert with his future first ex-wife and shared the amusing anecdote that when Mr Hippo had asked her if she liked Lynyrd Skynyrd, she had replied, oh, yes, he is great.


Despite her obviously having no clue as to who or what Lynyrd Skynyrd was, Mr Hippo took her to the concert anyway, and eventually married her.


And while the marriage ended badly, he has no regrets since it resulted in the birth of his first child, a wonderful person with whom he has shared many happy times and has many happy memories.


But as usual, Mr Hippo digresses, since he wanted to share his new found hope on the state of Southern Youth.


Belle is the proper young lady, full of wit and charm. She is also a hearty eater, always bringing to work an amazing array of fresh homecooked foods for break time.


One time she heated up a bowl of what looked to be sludge, and Mr Hippo inquired as to what this might be.


She replied, it's grits silly, haven't you ever eaten any?


My Hippo replied that he hadn't, being simply unable to get past the name.


She insisted that Mr Hippo simply must try some and that she would bring him a bowl sometime.


Mr Hippo politely declined, saying that he had his own food, and that his diet regimen simply left no room for additional eating.


Besides, Mr Hippo informed her, he was quite happy with his daily double serving of Cream of Wheat, a tasty meal he has
eaten ever since he was a tiny hippo, prepared almost every single day of his childhood by his loving mother.


Mr Hippo has many fond memories of his mother, but the most touching is one from the very last days of her life.


Mr Hippo was much younger then, but still a fully grown hippo.


Mr Hippo was enduring a very stressful time in his life, and while visiting her in the hospital on what turned out to be almost the last day of her life, Mr Hippo is not afraid to admit that he broke down and started crying.


And Mr Hippos mother, lying sick in a hospital bed, knowing her end was near, nevertheless took the time to comfort her eldest son, telling him, it was ok, and that he should never be afraid to cry.


In fact, right now, Mr Hippo confesses that he must take a moment to wipe a tear away, thinking about that special moment of the demonstration of the depth of a mothers love and concern for her children.


But anyway, Mr Hippo, in his roundabout way, just wanted to say that his conversations with Belle have shown him that not all Southern Youth have succumbed to the nihilist degeneracy personified in man-boy, but that in fact a spark of grace and civilization still reside in Southern Youth, and such knowledge gives Mr Hippo some small hope for the future.