# Is it just me or is everyone.... (Sampiro Story Request) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758 "2005-12-15T18:14:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758/41 "2005-12-21T03:51:52Z")
I like _Casseroles For the Dead_. God, you crack me up. I can’t wait 'til you’re published, and I can say I knew you when. Can I share a (less well-told) southern story? I was probably 10 years old. My family from Houston (which may or may not have included my dad - he hated visiting the Valley) was visiting my Mom’s sister Lois and her husband James down in McAllen in the Rio Grande valley. Lois had three daughters, Darlene, Glenda, and Shirley, and a son Sonny. (Yep - he was James, Jr.) Mom was the youngest of 12, and closer in age to the girls than to her sister. One night on our visit, Mom, Shirley and I “snuck out” to go eat Mexican food in the middle of the night. They had been talking all night in the bedroom that I was trying to sleep in - and decided they needed to go drinking. And they took me! We went to some place, and I had Shirley Temples while they drank beer. I loved the music and the dancing. I have no idea how many they had, but when we finally snuck back into the house, Aunt Lois was awake. A terrible argument occurred, and Aunt Lois slapped the piss out of Shirley, while my Mom tried to stop her. I was traumatized. NOT! But I still remember it. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758/42 "2005-12-21T06:14:34Z")
**Sampiro** : I think _Dixiephrenia_ would be more appropriate as the title of a collection of essays (some scholarly, some humorous, some a bit of both) by a variety of sons and daughters of the South, with contributions from a few “carpetbaggers” as well. Since you’ll be the sole author of the book you’re thinking of penning, you should select a title that hints at your unique perspective. As [David Sedaris](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316143464/ref=pd_sim_b_2/102-3889764-9812922?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155) is known for such volumes as _Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim_, so shall you be celebrated as “Mr. _Casseroles for the Dead_”! ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758/43 "2005-12-21T14:04:43Z")
I’m definitely voting for _Casseroles for the Dead_. Okay, I say road trip to \*\*Sampiro’s \*\* first book signing, no matter where that be. Who’s in? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758/44 "2005-12-21T16:04:32Z")
As a long time fan, I vote for _Casseroles for the Dead._ ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758/45 "2005-12-21T16:24:46Z")
_Casseroles for the Dead_. Definitely. Southerners already know what that means and everyone else will be curious enough to pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758/46 "2005-12-21T21:18:51Z")
Another vote for _Casseroles for the Dead_. \*Dixiephrenia \*sounds like an ill-advised acid rock experimental album by Lynryd Skynyrd. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758/47 "2005-12-21T21:48:42Z")
Yet another vote for _Casseroles for the Dead_, but keep _Dixiephrenia_ in mind in the event that you write a follow-up. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758/48 "2005-12-21T23:15:38Z")
As much as I like the term _Dixiephrenia_ and Lord knows I understand it as a born and bred southerner myself, I like _Casseroles For The Dead_ as a title for your book more. To me _Dixiephrenia_ sounds more like a scholarly probe into the psyche of southerners. While I’d love to read it, I’m afraid the average reader would shy away from it. **Samprio** you obviously have an international following here on the Dope but your book will no doubt have the most appeal to southerners. Every southerner understands _Casseroles For The Dead_. It’s just what you do when somebody dies. I have heard southern ladies say, countless times, that they fixed a certain casserole because (insert name of the dearly departed) always liked it, as if (name of dearly departed) was going to raise up and have a big heapin’ helpin’ of Aunt Vera’s chicken ‘n dressin’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-everyone-sampiro-story-request/335758.md?page=2)