Hilarious southern charm story...

Though Kentucky is not considered to be a deep south state, we nevertheless share some of the unique traits of the south.  Three important things here are charm, saving face, and loyalty (gossip does not apply to southern loyalty for one can gossip here and still be  considered very loyal).

Also here in the south, especially on many of our horse farms, the main houses have huge verandas, where families gather on nice Sunday afternoons.  This region is also very hilly.  There is another very charming thing about the south, and that is ladies
are addressed as Miz, such as Miz Adelaide.

My just-a-friend Danny exemplified charm, and as I discovered, saving face.  Danny also tinkered on cars, but wasn't quite as good on them as he thought he was.  But he boarded a horse at the same farm as I did, which is how we knew each other.  After I learned to walk again the second time, but hadn't been allowed to drive yet, Danny very kindly drove me out to the farm with him.  He was always driving a different car though.🙃

Did I say how hilly it is here yet?  It really IS hilly.🥴

So one bright Sunday afternoon after Danny and I had been out at the farm and were heading back to town, as we were flying down a very steep hill, Danny calmly said, "Uh oh, the brakes went out again."😱

Not so calmly I replied, "What?!!  What do you mean the brakes went out?!!"

"We have no brakes."  DUH.😱

By this time we were careening down this steep hill, when Danny suddenly turned the speeding car into the driveway of the Higgins Mansion.  On the veranda were gathered all the Higgins and their iced teas.😳

The driveway had a loop which proceeded right in front of the verandah (southern spelling).  Danny wanted to drive around this loop a few times till we slowed down enough to proceed on our way.  However we #1, were not in a position to tell the Higgins what was happening because we couldn't stop TO TELL them, and #2, Danny was determined to save face at all cost.🥴

"Miz Adelaide, each time we go past the veranDAH, wave and smile, so they think what we're doing is normal."

"WHAT?!!  THIS ISN'T NORMAL."🤣

"Please just do it?  I don't want the Higgins to think I have screwed up another car."🙃

So we ended up making FIVE loops around the Higgins' driveway, waving and smiling to all the Higgins each loop like nothing was wrong, as all the Higginses waved and smiled back to us each loop with the most startled looks upon their faces.🥴

"Uh Danny, aren't they wondering WHY WE'RE NOT STOPPING?"🤣

"Probably.  But charm means if somebody comes down your driveway making five loops around the loop while politely waving and smiling in front of your verandah without stopping, you remain polite back without questioning their reasons."🙄

"You know they're going to be talking about this for decades, right?"

"Maybe."

By the time we made five loops and headed safely on our way, with the brakes miraculously working again, Danny and I left the Higgins with one final series of polite smiling waving and a toot on the car horn after a charmingly successful saving face.👍

And yes, nearly everyone in the region soon heard about the Sunday the charming Danny and Miz Adelaide made a social call from the moving car TEN loops (it became exaggerated in the many retellings) while happily waving and smiling at the Higgins family as they sat on their veranDAH happily waving and smiling back.

I began driving again immediately afterwards...🤣