By DAN LANGFORD

On this Monday after torrential rains and flooding in much of the country, it seems appropriate to trot out this old gem of presumably Southern origin.  I say “presumably” because I’ve no idea where the saying comes from, but can you imagine anyone from New York, New Jersey, or Chicago saying it?  I can’t.  The phrase is generally used to emphasize an affirmative answer to a pressing question, as in “Can you be here first thing Monday morning?”  One might reply, “I’ll be right here, th’Good Lord willin’ an’ th’creek don’t rise.”  The phrase has its other uses, too; most of which in my experience have been appended to discussions of fairly grand plans, as in “Inez an’ me are goin’ t’Itly next month, th’Good Lord willin’ an’ th’creek don’t rise.”

It’s possible that “Creek,” not “creek,” was intended when the phrase first originated.  Creek Indian uprisings were certainly a factor in my part of Georgia (I actually live on Chief McIntosh’s trail), what with McIntosh’s White Stick Creeks of Georgia at increasing odds with their Red Stick Creek counterparts across the way in Alabama in the 1810s and 1820s.  Who really knows?

Uprisings of Creeks are no longer a threat, but as we’ve seen this past week, upswells of creeks are as dangerous as ever.  I have an idea the funny old saying will last as long as creeks keep rising,  but certainly no longer than the Good Lord is willing.  In the mean time, keep your feet dry.

By DAN LANGFORD

Have been hibernating like a bear for the last several weeks, but the pretty weather this past weekend caused me to stir from my den, stretch, and begin to get active again.  Noticed Friday’s calendar heading, and saw that date marked the vernal equinox, or, what most call the beginning of Spring.  Only in most places in Georgia, it’s pronounced “Sprang,” both as to the season, the noun, and the predicate.  Conjugating the verb “to spring” was always interesting in the Georgia classrooms of my youth.  Spring, sprang, (have) sprung — except everyone always pronounced it “Sprang, sprang, (have) sprung.”

Flowers have sprung forth from the ground, buds are springing from the trees, sneezes are springing from noses due to the annual pollen coating on everything — a sure sign that “Sprang” is upon us.  Enjoy the beauty of the season!