Accent on the Crazy

I married a Texan.  A Texan with a cute accent.  And though that accent is fading the longer he lives in Maryland, there are some things he says that will forever be odd. 

For instance, there's this weird homonym-esque pronounciation of certain words that perpetually confuses me.

"Hey Jen!  Can you go get me a pen?"  (Pen pronounced "Pee-in")


"A Pin?"


"No, a PEN!" (pee-in) "Not a PEN!" (pee-in)

And on and on it goes until one of us starts describing the function of said requested item.

"Do you need something to WRITE with or something to poke someone with?!"


"Nevermind!  I'll get the pen myself!"

So when we decided to settle in Maryland and raise our kids here, I silently thanked God that I would never have to deal with the weird homonym mix-ups that make my dear Texan husband and I want to throw things. 

(Granted, I know that we'll have our own struggles with the kids saying things like, "Aw, we're goin' down ta Bawlmore, hon!"  You Baltimoreans know exactly the accent I'm talking about).

Imagine my shock yesterday to hear this from my oldest,

"Mom!  That's grass!  A big old "hee-ool" of grass!"  

Contextually, I knew exactly what she meant.  But the pronounciation of "hill" was scarily the same as "heel".  It won't be long before I'm asking whether Bean wants to make a DEAL or put some DILL on something.  (They're both "Dee-ool").  Because I'm already at a complete loss.

Apparently Texan roots are stronger than I thought.