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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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JANUARY FOOLS’ DAY
The prediction had been for sunshine and fifty degrees, and I had looked forward to a New Year’s Day hike in the woods. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. The wind brought in some dark clouds and put a real chill into the air. Then I remembered I had forgotten to soak my dried blackeye peas. Worse yet, I didn’t have any pork to cook with the peas nor did I have any cabbage in the fridge. What would my superstitious, southern relatives say? Grabbing my coat, cap, and gloves, I trotted off to the grocery store. As I walked, I thought about whether I should use the quick soak method on the peas or just buy a can of cooked blackeye peas at the store. Finally, I decided that canned peas just wouldn’t count for good luck on New Year’s Day, especially if there were already a bag of dried peas in the house. So I found some pork and some green cabbage and headed back home. About a block from my house, I encountered another man walking with a grocery bag in each hand. As I passed him, I asked where the sunshine we had been promised had gone. Over my shoulder, I heard him reply, "I think it’s called January Fools’ Day." Back in the warmth of my apartment I thought about what he had said. I had not fallen prey to the New Year’s resolution game this year. However, I’d just come from a walk in a bitter cold wind in order to prepare blackeye peas and cabbage to ensure good luck and fortune in the coming year. Indeed it was January Fools’ Day, and I was one of the biggest fools of all. So I put the the cabbage and pork in the fridge, placed the bag of blackeye peas on the pantry shelf, and made a pizza from scratch with fresh veggies. Then I took a well deserved nap.
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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