Talking Southern – Sacks

During a recent road trip, your compiler made a stop at a convenience store where he politely asked for a bag to carry his purchases to his car. The clerk, in a sarcastic tone, expressed surprise at the term “sack” being used for a bag. This encounter led your compiler to ponder whether using “sack” instead of “bag” is a Southern expression, as he was accustomed to hearing it while growing up. Various items like hog feed, groceries, and seed came in sacks, making the term “sack” associated with portable and temporary containers.

Legend has it that the town of Resaca in Georgia was named after a situation involving a large sack. The story involves an Indian chief’s daughters, with a young settler attempting to kidnap the fair maiden but mistakenly taking the less attractive daughter instead. This humorous tale, although likely apocryphal, sheds light on the usage of the term “sack.”

The late writer Lewis Grizzard was known for his financial philosophy of the “brown paper sack test,” focusing on how long he could live off his earnings without working. This simple yet practical approach to finances resonates with many, highlighting the importance of financial security.