@Sharon: After DH and I were married, we moved to Illinois. My job at the University where DH was a student was at the Speech Clinic, and of course, being from NC, I showed up with my Southern accent. A sage piece of advice I received from the head of the Speech Department was not to try to change my accent. It was who I was. My DH soon got used to me saying "you reckon" and a few other Southernisms!
