<p>Dang! Grew up in Oregon, but spent the first three years of married life in Jesup, Georgia (courtesy of the US Navy–don’t ask) and I guess it rubbed off! 53% Dixie. Whoda thunk.</p>
<p>I still remember the first job I had down there, at K-Mart, where the manager asked me to do something “By the backs” I couldn’t figure out what he was talking about and kept asking him to repeat his request. After getting flustered at my apparent inability to understand a simple request, he said (raising his voice somewhat) THE BACKS! YOU KNOW, TWO WILLS, A KICKSTAND? THE BACKS!" Ohhhh, it was the kickstand that did it for me! I was working under the misapprehension that the vowel sounds in BIKE and WHEELS was somewhat similar to the name of the letter! Who knew it was actually a short a and short i respectively?</p>
<p>Live and learn! I did glean an excellent accent from the experience, though, and my students love it when I read stories aloud using it!</p>