I had a shattering realization Friday that this former New York boy may have indeed truly become southern.

Trust me, the thought is probably at least as frightening for me as it is for my local neighbors here in Savannah.

Most folks know I have more than a bit of a sweet tooth. I come by it naturally from my mom who likes her treats. Gorgeous was excited when she met a man who liked chocolate even more than she did.

And Gorgeous will vouch for the fact that Dr. Pepper has long been my soft drink of choice. She’s a diet Coke girl, but I prefer something with a little more zip.

Since I’m on the road so much and at all hours, it is not unusual for me to grab a snack when I stop for gas. And lately I’ve taken to grabbing a Moon Pie and a Dr. Pepper, mostly because I like them and because it’s a cheap snack combo.

I never really thought anything of it until Friday.

I was driving back from Jacksonville up I-95 late Friday afternoon and I hadn’t had much of a lunch so I was a little peckish. I had to stop in the little coastal town of St. Mary’s, Georgia to tank up with gas. Gas is cheaper in Georgia than Florida, so I try to make sure I refuel north of the line.

Anyway, as I was staring into the cooler at the sodas, I decided to mix it up a little and I grabbed a Vanilla Cherry Dr. Pepper instead of a regular one. I’d paid for my gas at the pump so I only had to count out a couple dollars to pay for my snack.

But as the lady at the Flash Foods where I stopped rang it up she informed me, “That’s a Vanilla Cherry Dr. Pepper, you know. Is that what you want?”

I assured her I’d intentionally grabbed that flavor of soda. But I couldn’t shake the question.

Why would she ask me that?

Then it dawned on me. That particular snack combo is a distinctly Southern thing.

I’ve become Southern by personal preference and didn’t even realize it. And it only took me 20 years! Sheesh!