To Health Wealth And Happiness

Black-eyed peas, collard greens, spinach cornbread. As I recently found out, these are a few of the southern culinary traditions to bring in the New Year.  New Years Eve is one of the most widely celebrated nights of the year.  Parties, champagne, trying to stay up till midnight to watch that glittering ball drop in Times Square - I still can't figure out why all those people wait there in the cold... This year, my New Years Eve consisted of me and my wonderful husband relaxing on the couch watching a movie.  As my Dad wisely pointed out to me during our conversation earlier that day "It's not like you haven't been to big NYE parties in the past."  Dad, you have a point...

As 2009 came to a close, I, like most other people, began to think back at the year that would soon be in the past.  This time, it was not only the year, but the decade.  Attempting to reflect on it all was at first overwhelming.   The past decade included my high school graduation, college graduation and most recently my wedding.  [see below - you get the idea...]


From Senior Prom to starting my first day of work in New York City, the past decade has certainly been filled with ups, downs, sideways challenges and everything imaginable in between. My ego aside, the past decade was also filled with great loss of very dear loved ones whose memory certainly will carry on.  Through hard times and through joyous times, 2000-2009 is a vault of impressions.
Conclusion: I am infinitely grateful for my loving family and friends who have been there for me through it all. 

What I like about New Years is that it gives all of us a chance and opportunity to not only reflect but to look forward as well.  In anticipation of the next year and the next decade, I can't help but think about the significant moments that happen all the time - what memories will I be reflecting on next New Years Eve? I suppose that's one component of New Year's Resolutions; to think about what is to come and how you want to positively impact it. I would like to think I am constantly trying to resolve as a person... can that be a resolution? To resolve all year and continuously make commitments? That's going to be one of my resolutions.

Since this was a quiet New Years Eve, we decided to cook - and I mean really cook a New Years Day meal.  Walk into any grocery store in the south around New Years and there is an abundance of collard greens and black eyed peas.  In trying to participate in the southern tradition - we cooked up cornbread, chicken casserole (okay, not part of the tradition, but yummy just the same), black eyed peas and collard greens.  Black eyed peas are said to be for health in the new year and collards (or greens) are for wealth (there were a LOT of collards on our table...).  I have to say this was a fun tradition to partake in, one that I think will maintain in my home for years to come.
(left, spinach cornbread. right, collard greens and black eyed peas)


I'm not sure what path 2010 will lead me down - or how that path will wind through the next decade.  But I am thankful for my friends, family and for the memories of the past decade that I will cherish.  And here's to health, wealth and much happiness to come.