You might be from Marion County if...

"You might be from Marion County if..."

Stevie Lowery, Publisher

Photo illustration by Stevie Lowery

I never imagined that simple phrase would spark so much interest, but it did last week when I started a group on Facebook called simply that, "You might be from Marion County if..." (Not to be confused with Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck if..." one-liners. Some might say those two phrases are one in the same, but I disagree... Somewhat.)

Since creating it at approximately 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, Aug. 2, there are more than 600 members (and growing) and more than 1,100 posts. And the memories of Marion County that have been shared are just priceless. Within the past week, I have been reminded of so many awesome things about Marion County, past and present. For instance, someone mentioned Bo Ho the Clown, and I remembered how he used to tease me and say because my name was "Stevie" I must be a little boy. And, even though he teased me, I loved Bo Ho. Ham Days hasn't been the same without him.

Another person mentioned Pizza Villa, and I remembered how my dad's photos were on display throughout the restaurant, and how much fun my twin sister and I used to have playing in the game room. Oh, and the sausage pizza. It was the best I have ever tasted.

Several people have mentioned shopping at Heck's, and that brought back very vivid memories of when my mother would take my sister and me there and we were allowed to buy one Barbie. I remember standing in the aisle and inspecting every Barbie, trying to pick the perfect one. I also remember my sister and me hiding from our mother in the clothes racks. Mom didn't make a habit of taking us to Heck's very often, come to think of it, but it was definitely a treat when she was brave enough to venture there with us.

More than a thousand memories about Marion County have been shared on Facebook, and I felt it necessary to share some of my favorites (so far) with our readers who may not be Facebookers. I also plan to include many more of the comments in this year's Ham Days section. This year's Ham Days theme is "Hometown Pride, County Wide" and so many of the memories being shared truly show how proud we all are to be Marion Countians.

Enjoy!

And, by all means, join us on Facebook and share your Marion County memories!

You might be from Marion County if...

Julie B. Young: Your prized possession is your complete set of Ham Days pins!

Krista Kemp: You think going swimming in a creek is classy.

Brandi Gaddie Ingram: Your favorite thing to eat in the summer was "mini burgers" and homemade banana ice cream from Tommy's.

Katherine Buckman McMillin: You remember using Whistlin' Pig as a point of reference in telling people how to get somewhere!

Jay Raikes: You consider Ham Days a holiday!

Sandy Thompson Peterson: You know the word "snouzer" and use it frequently.

Barb Smith Battcher: You remember the Tasmanian Jams!

Connie Murphy Adams: You knew Dagwood, Snarepole and Peckerwood!

Franki M. Reisinger: You remember going to Hecks!

Jeri Tungate Clarkson: Ella had bras and panties half off at the Top Shop!

Jessica Hannah Portman: Everyone in town knows who your parents are, which means you could not get away with very much.

Kara Lewis: Your curfew when you were 9 was "when the street light came on."

Michael Kirkland: Your grandmother, mother, aunts, sisters, nieces, and daughters were all participants in Junior Miss!

Kurt Mattingly: You ever went to the St. A turkey supper and came home with six two-liters and jam cake and was only out 75 cents.

Laura Thompson: Half of your phone book is filled with Mattinglys!

Joe Mike Crews: You remember Bo Ho the clown.

Corey Davis: You don't think there is anything strange when you see "Mattingly-Mattingly" or "Spalding-Spalding" wedding announcements in the Enterprise.

Carrie Hughes: You were allowed to charge candy, soft drinks, movies, etc. to your dad's account at St. Joe Grocery.

Joey Porter: You shot basketball at Hamilton Heights everyday and night.

Lee Potter Morgeson: You used to beg your parents to do a Dukes of Hazard jump over the train tracks on Spalding Ave! That was awesome!

Travis Clark: You knew that Knob Rabbit was a person and not an animal living on a hillside.

Bill Adams: You didn't know who "Sting" was, but he (or she) was really cool for climbing so high up the tower behind the Masonic Temple and spray painting their name up there!

Avral Thompson: You always thought summer was over the day after the St. Francis picnic.

Damita Adams: You went to St. A and still remember all the words to The Sound of Music and the Ten Commandments!

Lori Spalding: You ever stayed up all night the night before the last day of school filling water balloons, to put in your trunk, to throw in the school parking lot, knowing you were going to get Saturday school.

Debra Peterson Calvin: You couldn't wait to get out of there but miss it now that you're gone

Kurt Mattingly: You have traveled to other countries, lived in other places, seen many parts of the world, met thousands of people, but appreciate your friends, family, and community more every time you come home.