A Typical Southern New Year’s Meal

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First things first, Happy New Year’s!

Now onto the post. I know it’s a bit of a deviation from the standard but hey, never too late for some cultural education! And if it’s part of your Resolution then I’m helping ya down the right road. (you’re welcome, by the way)

Here in the South, we have a standard New Year’s Meal we consume in order to bring good luck to the year to come. (And after the year we just had we need ALL the luck we can get!) Our in-laws will be providing this meal today (straight from Cracker Barrel but hey, food is food and Cracker Barrel knows a few things about doing homestyle food right!)

The first component of this meal we’ll go over is the black-eyed pea. This humble starchy veg is actually native to Africa and found its way to the deep south via the West Indies. It’s actually a healthy little thing if not prepared with hamhocks, bacon, and fatback. The Black-Eyed pea is full of calcium, folate, and Vitamin A. So the next time you try to justify a big serving of Black-Eyed peas, you can spout those little advantages off to the diet part of your brain and start counting calories and crunches tomorrow.

The history of eating the black eyed peas for luck dates all the way back to the Egyptians and was brought to Georgia via Jewish Tradition. To read more about the history of this tiny veg, click here.

The second component to the meal, greens, be they collard, turnip, mustard, or whatever your preference may be, is typically consumed to aid in the coming of money. This tradition is not as easily traced as even the Wikipedia article needs citation regarding the reference. Allegedly the reference to money doesn’t lie within the color but the shape – the leaves appear to be folded money. The nutritional value of greens is out of the ballpark too – just don’t expect the manner in which they are prepared down here in the South to keep you fit and trim!

Cornbread is also standard fare as is some sort of pork whether it be Roast Pork, Pork Chop, Country Ham, Roasted Ham, or whatever form you prefer your pork to take. There does not seem to be any tradition or superstition in the inclusion of the two of these foods other than the assumption that these were two of the items also not destroyed by Yankee Soldiers during the Civil war as they were thought unfit to eat and thereby allowed Southerners to survive. Don’t quote me on that though.

I was a good little Damned Yankee (that’s a Yankee transplant who moves South and STAYS) today and gobbled up my New Year’s Meal. I then promptly fell asleep, also like a good little Damned Yankee!

So it’s New Year’s Eve…

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It’s been a rough year.

Can I say that again?

It’s been a rough year.

One more time –

It’s been a rough year.

And here I sit, on the last day of it, sick, tired, and trying not to worry about the future.

I’m worn out. Slap worn out. But amazingly enough, still hopeful, still laughing, and still smiling.

I know I should focus on the positive. Focus on the gifts of my renewed faith, my renewed strength in God’s power and plan for my life. I’m trying. Really, I am.

It’s been a good year for my PPD work –

  • This blog has had nearly 20,000 hits since May
  • The PPD Dads Project has over 1,000 hits and has only been in offical existence for 26 days now.
  • An interview at 5 minutes for mom.
  • Lots of interviews here!
  • There’s been the development of a statewide initiative here in GA
  • Several local connections made, one of which has netted me two interns to help overhaul my support meetings!
  • I’ve really had a blast working over at iVillage as the CL of the Postpartum Depression Board and thank God I am able to provide support in that way too.
  • I’ve provided support for at least 1 woman/family each day this past year (that I know of). That’s a minimum of 365 families. Wow.
  • Chat at Pampered, Pregger & Beyond

Personally it’s been a rough year but I’ve struggled to focus on the positives instead of the negatives. I know if I focused on the negatives, I would be swept away into the deep dark depths of the sea of sorrow forever.

My car accident taught me we can never know what is coming our way and that the protection we thought we had here in the world may not be there at all. There is only one way protection and safe place in which to rest – on Him. He will never fail.

My probation as a result of my car accident taught me that if you do truly lean on Him, He will bring compassion to those around you and allow the repentant nature of your soul to be revealed to them. He will humble you.

Alli’s diagnosis with ADHD has shown me that we need to be understanding of others and patient with them no matter what. We are all beautiful no matter what because HE made us.

And more recently, my husband’s job loss has taught me that even when things seem irreparably damaged, there is hope as long as both parties are willing to work towards the same goal with the same fervrent dedication.

So while I am not ending the year on a high note, I have truly learned some valuable lessons this year. Lessons that have allowed me to grow by leaps and bounds and have carved a new me. Just as I have in the past, I intend on pulling myself up by my bootstraps (yes, I KNOW that’s a cliche!) and wading into whatever 2009 has to offer. Serve it up, baby. I’ve got God on my side.

Mary Jo Codey talks about PPD & The MOTHER’S Act

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Yet again, Mary Jo Codey has bravely shared her story with a nation of viewers who need to know.. not only about postpartum depression, but about The MOTHERS Act which will be reintroduced to the new Congress early this spring. Thank you Mary Jo for all you have done and continue to do to help end these devastating illnesses.

The Insanity of Sickness & Christmas

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Oh how it royally bites to be sick on a holiday. Especially when you’re the one cooking THE MEAL and it’s your first time at the helm for such a big event. I somehow managed to hold it all together and pulled off an awesome Christmas Lunch of (get this) Roast Beef Tenderloin with Beef Mushroom Sauce, Carrot Souffle, Green Bean Bundles, Creamed Corn, and Yorkshire Pudding. I baked a Scripture Cake the night before in honor of the man of the day, Jesus.

Yet once I stopped moving frantically about in the kitchen and sat down, my body realized the rush was over and apparently gave itself permission to implode.

My left hip? Out of alignment for the better part of the afternoon and evening. Only heat and a whopping dose of Tylenol and Ibuprofen cleared that up. And thank goodness it did because I was unable to bear weight on my left side without almost collapsing and crying outloud.

My head and chest? Obscenely Congested. Tylenol Cold did nothing for me. Ended up making a Walgreens run at 10p last night for myself and for Cameron. I got Severe Cold Meds and Nasal Spray. He got a little Flowing Vapors desk thingy by Triaminic. (Have I mentioned Charlotte’s sick too?)

All of this started last Friday when Alli was coughing slightly. The cough got worse and by Sunday evening I was at the ER with her. First thing I did when we got ushered back to a room? Turned on the NY Giants game! (Thank GOD they won!) She had to get a strep swab, flu swab (which is a nasal swab and not an easy thing to watch), take some ibuprofen and tylenol, get some chest x-rays, get said x-rays done again, and finally ended up with a diagnosis of Possible Pneumonia. She was given antibiotics there and we were sent home with a prescription. Half an hour after she took the antibiotics she threw up. Repeated this again in the morning when we tried to give Motrin. Off to the ped’s office with a feverish uncooperative toddler in tow.

Much of this past week has been spent in a headlock with Alli to get her to take her meds and trying to conserve the tissue use because her nose has been running a freakishly long marathon. We’re all coughing (except for Chris) and today has found me in bed for the better part of it – I’ve been awake a couple of times but not very long. I’m due to take some more medicine here shortly (I think – how bad is that!) and am ready to crawl back into bed and rest. I just can’t take being awake anymore. My head is pouding, my voice has apparently bought the last ticket to Clarksville, and this cough and congestion is driving me insane.

And for the record, Chris has been absolutely awesome today. He’s really taken the reigns and let me pass out. I can’t even begin to express how much that has meant to me!

So forgive me if I haven’t posted much the past week or don’t post much for the next few days. I’m taking my own advice and doing some much needed self-care.