it's why I know I love the South

When I was a kid, I spent hours and hours playing with Barbies. I would imagine her in her world, with her fabulous friends and occasional boy-toy Ken. He was never really a long-term kind of guy in my imagination. I preferred the drama of an on-again, off-again relationship. There was something about a fierce break-up where Barbie would swing her slightly dreaded head of hair (with bangs, which I've always regretted) and storm out in screaming "I'm too good for you Ken! Go find someone who cares!"

Clearly my issues with relationships run long and deep.

Anyway - my Barbies are long gone; I don't actually know what happened to her and her gang of misfits (note to self: ask mom...). But every once and a while I think back to those nights spent playing out scenarios of the incredibly fabulous life of Barbie with a sense of loss. When did I stop playing with her? When did I transition from making her ridiculously skanky outfits out of scraps of the cuffs of my jeans (shut up. she looked hot.) to cutting knee holes in my own jeans? (c'mon people, it was the 80's. If you were really fashionable, instead of cutting a hole you would scrape the denim with the scissors over and over for that authentic "worn-out" look... don't shake your head at me. You know you did it - or now you're pissed you never knew that trick.)

So, you're probably asking yourself "Okay, but what the hell does all this have to do with the South? Remember the title up there? The one where you mention loving the South. Get the point already."

Here is why I love the South:

Yup. That's right.
It's Barbie Beach.
Lettin' us know all about Barbie's Pink Posse Walk

Complete with Barbie, her "Posse",
and the dude from the Mucinex Commercials (third from the right...)

I found this little gem outside of Macon, GA. on a recent trip. As I was heading down a back road I flew by this fantastic display and had to turn back and park my rental on the side of the road so I could get some good shots. People certainly stared. I didn't care. This was worth it. Where else are you going to find a Barbie Beach party? Clearly this if for a good cause (raising money for "canNCER victIMS." Which means that not only are these people fantasticly kitchy and creative, but they care. It doesn't get much better than that.

And THAT, is why I know I love the South, y'all.