Black-Eyed Peas

Nigh on sixty years ago this Yankee from the State of Indiana, Wed a lovely Confederate lass from the State of Louisiana! I thought I knew her pretty well by the time our vows were read, But there was a New Years Day secret that she had left unsaid! Seems there's an old southern tradition that I'd never heard of before. By eatin' black-eyed peas on New Years Day you'd have good luck, she swore! That lowly, bland legume is rather tasteless but a hambone spices it up. And my spouse adds this and that to the mix, usin' her measurin' cup. With the black-eyed peas is served cornpone (as it's called in Dixie land), From a recipe handed down by generations and it must be made by hand! Since I was introduced to that humble pea known for its great good luck, 'Tis our chuck on New Years Day with a generous decanter of Cold Duck! Now, in Hoosier Land on New Years Day we ate sausage and sauerkraut. Whether is helps to eat peas or kraut for a year's good luck, I somewhat doubt, But, I must confess with my spouse at my side, life has mostly been a breeze. Do you reckon it has somethin' to do with eatin' 'pone and black-eyed peas! Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired © All Rights Reserved Placed No. 3 in Russell Sivey's "Good Luck Meal" Contest - Jan 2012