For those of you who grew up in Georgia, there are probably certain things along the way that will trigger fond memories and make you say, “yep, that’s totally Georgia.” In fact, there might be quite a few on this list that you could definitely relate to. Things that maybe you didn’t think were a Georgia-thing because you’re so used to them by now. Get ready to have a few a-ha moments after discovering that yessir, these are absolutely signs you grew up in Georgia.

You remember when it was nicknamed the Empire State of the South.

Flickr Central Atlanta Progress The nickname The Peach State didn’t come about until the mid-1990s, which means if you grew up in Georgia you were likely very familiar with the transition. Heck, maybe you still even call it the Empire State of the South and there isn’t a darn thing wrong with that either.

You have at least one person in your family with a double name.

Flickr Samantha Taridona Setzler Sara Beth. Anne Claire. Betty Grace. Mary Helen. Jack Wyatt. John David. David Patrick. It’s a Southern thing and nobody else seems to get it.

You come to the dinner table with a few expectations…

Flickr Kelly Garbato You love pimento cheese. You have a family peach pie recipe. You know when to get quality pecans during the year, and you expect your grits to have shrimp somewhere in there. It’s just that simple.

As a kid, you probably thought all iced tea came straight from the source that sweetened.

Flickr WordRidden Much like the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus, realizing that tea comes UNSWEETENED (gasp!) was probably really disappointing. However, the good news is, you know that when you order up an iced tea in Georgia, it’ll likely already be as sweet as it gets.

Very, VERY rarely at a restaurant in Georgia will you hear, “is Pepsi okay?”

Flickr Thomas Hawk Because let’s be honest—it’s not okay. Pepsi has never been okay, and it never will be okay. Coca-Cola is the soda of choice and if there isn’t any Coke for whatever insane reason, we’ll choose something else.

Visitors assume you know all Georgia celebrities.

Flickr Larry Much like visitors expect New Jersey folks to know the cast of the Jersey Shore, you probably get a bit of that as well. Asking if you know Honey Boo Boo or Paula Deen isn’t too uncommon, but you have to remind them that Georgia has 10.5 million people and it’s very unlikely we’re all friends. Despite the fact we sure try to be.

Macaroni and cheese and sweet potato pie are legitimate vegetable options.

Flickr Steven DePolo Because if it comes as a side option with things like collards and peas, then it must be a vegetable, right?!

You’ve lost at least one hair brush thanks to the tangles brought on by the humidity.

Flickr born_to_me Also, people that complain about the heat and humidity make you laugh and laugh hard. Unless of course, they’re from Florida, in which you can buy them a beer and share in the pain.

If there is snow in the forecast, you will stock your fridge for weeks….just in case.

Flickr Stephane MIgnon Despite the fact that it’s a light dusting and will likely melt before you even get on the road, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Especially if you live near the capital city.

Despite the fact you know driving in Atlanta is the worst, you still are amazed that traffic like that exists in the world.

Flickr Gregor Smith How is it that there is never-ending construction that has been going on since the 1980s?!

You’ve never given up on a sports team—even when they likely gave up on themselves.

Flickr Famous Amos Because the truth is, that even when the Falcons, or the Braves, or the Bulldogs really mucked it up for the season, you still keep coming back for the opener and cheering them on because that is your team—through and through.

Want to keep this list going?! Add some of your own signs that you grew up in Georgia to the comments section!

Flickr Central Atlanta Progress

The nickname The Peach State didn’t come about until the mid-1990s, which means if you grew up in Georgia you were likely very familiar with the transition. Heck, maybe you still even call it the Empire State of the South and there isn’t a darn thing wrong with that either.

Flickr Samantha Taridona Setzler

Sara Beth. Anne Claire. Betty Grace. Mary Helen. Jack Wyatt. John David. David Patrick. It’s a Southern thing and nobody else seems to get it.

Flickr Kelly Garbato

You love pimento cheese. You have a family peach pie recipe. You know when to get quality pecans during the year, and you expect your grits to have shrimp somewhere in there. It’s just that simple.

Flickr WordRidden

Much like the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus, realizing that tea comes UNSWEETENED (gasp!) was probably really disappointing. However, the good news is, you know that when you order up an iced tea in Georgia, it’ll likely already be as sweet as it gets.

Flickr Thomas Hawk

Because let’s be honest—it’s not okay. Pepsi has never been okay, and it never will be okay. Coca-Cola is the soda of choice and if there isn’t any Coke for whatever insane reason, we’ll choose something else.

Flickr Larry

Much like visitors expect New Jersey folks to know the cast of the Jersey Shore, you probably get a bit of that as well. Asking if you know Honey Boo Boo or Paula Deen isn’t too uncommon, but you have to remind them that Georgia has 10.5 million people and it’s very unlikely we’re all friends. Despite the fact we sure try to be.

Flickr Steven DePolo

Because if it comes as a side option with things like collards and peas, then it must be a vegetable, right?!

Flickr born_to_me

Also, people that complain about the heat and humidity make you laugh and laugh hard. Unless of course, they’re from Florida, in which you can buy them a beer and share in the pain.

Flickr Stephane MIgnon

Despite the fact that it’s a light dusting and will likely melt before you even get on the road, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Especially if you live near the capital city.

Flickr Gregor Smith

How is it that there is never-ending construction that has been going on since the 1980s?!

Flickr Famous Amos

Because the truth is, that even when the Falcons, or the Braves, or the Bulldogs really mucked it up for the season, you still keep coming back for the opener and cheering them on because that is your team—through and through.

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Address: Georgia, USA