Folklore and superstition run deep here in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia. This part of the country has always been a hard place to make a living. I imagine as these sayings were told, it wasn’t so much  truth as just saying, “Why take chances?”

One of these old sayings is the tradition of having cabbage, greens, black eye peas, and hog jowls for New Years Day. Having eaten these, you are assured of money and good luck for the coming year. The cabbage is for money-greens is for “green backs” -black eye peas are for luck. And the hog jowls? I think that was just thrown in there to make the others taste better.

My mom went one step farther and insisted that how many times you swept the floor that day was how many new dresses you would get the next year. (I think she may have made this one up to assure a clean house).

This is also the day to take down your Christmas Tree. Any time sooner and you will surely have a  bad Christmas next year. And if you are really superstitious, you will wait until the next day.

I am sure this sounds silly to most people, and I am no longer superstitious about it, but I still do it for traditions sake. Every New Year Day finds me cooking my traditional dinner of cabbage, black eye peas, greens, mashed potatoes, and corn bread. I forgo the hog jowls. And even if  it doesn’t bring money and good fortune to my door, it surely can’t hurt to put a few vegetables in the body after all of those Christmas treats.

Oh, and by the way-I will diligently sweep that floor until it shines!

The snow started falling about two pm, and as I looked outside, I decided to leave work four hours early in the hope of getting home before darkness fell.

The interstate was backed up on all sides with people lined up back to back traveling at a rate of ten to fifteen miles per hour on a sixty five mph interstate.

Visibility was terrible; it was a “white out”. I realized it was going to be a long dangerous ride.

We inched along at a snail’s pace, and I kept thinking if only I could make it off the interstate, surely the traffic would be better on the less traveled roads. Wrong–It only got worse once I was off the interstate; now the roads were more treacherous and traffic was not only moving at a snail’s pace, but had actually stopped completely at times for periods of twenty minutes at a time. Traffic was so backed up, I couldn’t tell what the problem was, but as I approached closer, I realized that we were coming upon a hill and people were sliding off. I had already passed several stranded motorists that had given up or hit a ditch.

Sure enough when it was my turn to take the hill, I too started sliding and had a hard time staying on the raod. My car is front wheel drive only, and although I have always managed to get home on bad days, this was proving to be more difficult than usual. I made the hill only to find myself sliding again a little farther on. Once again I made the hill and proceded on.

I thought I was in the clear now, and just as soon found myself sliding uncontrollably toward the edge of the road. I stopped just short of the edge; I couldn’t really tell how much distance I had before falling into a ravine below because of the snow; but I could tell it wasn’t much. I tried to move the car and slid just an inch more, so I tried backing up, and once again I slid just an inch or two more toward the edge. Finally I just sat there, thinking surely someone would see the precarious situation I was in and stop to help, but no, they had plenty of room around me, so they went on around and preceded on their way. By this time it was starting to get dark. I sat there in the car and stared down at that ravine and imagined how many times my car would flip over until it hit the bottom. I decided to try once more, and miraculously, it moved in the right direction this time and I managed to get it out and back on the road again.

Not long once again I slid into a curve; only this time I was on the other side of the road. I saw headlights approching in the distance; I tried desperately to get back on my side of the road. Failing this, I laid down on the horn to warn the approaching car of my dilemma. He approached the curve and I could see the fear on his face as he tried to avoid me. By this time I was getting back to my side of the road, and he manuvered around me. Thankfully no one was hit, and he managed to get control and continue on his way. Once again diaster had been averted.

More cautiously, I made it to the next town, where there were several Bed and Breakfast Inns. I considered getting one, but after thinking the storm would probably last another day or two, I decided to try to make it home instead of being stranded there.

Once I passed the town and the journey became even more dangerous, I regretted my decision to go on. The road was no longer visible, so passing another car was just as much luck as any thing else. I continued on, sliding and running off the road; and getting back on and trying again. It seemed I had been on the road for days and my nerves were feeling the strain. I passed a few cars, but traffic had died down now, and I pretty much had the road to myself now.

I was just three miles from home, so I thought surely I could make it home now. But no, the roads had become even more treacherous, and my little car just spinned it’s wheels and dug and finally started sliding until I hit the ditch. Thinking no one would stop to help, I sat there pondering my predicament when two men stopped and asked if I needed help. They kindly pushed my car out of the ditch and suggested I try the old road into town. So I backed out and started out the old road, but once again my little car had went as far as it was going to go, and I hit the ditch once more. I didn’t sit there long before a kind lady came by and offered to call someone for me. While we were talking two different men stopped to help. They got in front of the car and pushed me out, and as the car hit the road again, it spun completely around and had me facing the way I had just come.

“Well, I guess I am going back the way I came,” I told the men.

“I guess you will have to, Mame,” one of the men said.

I thanked them and headed back to the little store I had just passed. As I drove off, I heard them saying, “Be careful, drive slow.”

I am not one to give up easily, but I realized it was time to “abandon ship” and ask for help.

I made it back to the little store I had just passed, and called my good friend and neighbor to come and get me.

I noticed as I pulled into the parking lot that several cars and trucks  were already abandoned in the parking lot.

He came in a four wheel drive and took me home. It had now been five and a half hours to make what should have been a one hour and fifteen minute drive. I was worried about the electricity being on since I knew people were already losing power; I was fortunate, mine was still on.

I pulled off my wet socks and shoes and took a nice warm shower and put my cozy bath robe on.

I  was stranded at  home for the next two days;  so I drank hot chocolate and watched a marathon of Christmas movies and counted my blessings to still be alive and well.

That, dear friends,  is how I spent the blizzard of 2009.

Last year I wrote about how Santa needed a bail out package; and Santa is still a little strapped for cash this year; so he is going to have to be diligent with his gift list again this year. He is making his list and checking it twice, and then twice again. He is only going to be able to bring the best gifts to those who have been especially good. A little good will just not cut it. So, the question is, have you been naughty or nice?

A few small infractions might just remove you from the nice list. So, you say you have been good this year; how good? You didn’t steal anything, you didn’t commit a murder, you didn’t commit adultery. You didn’t even covet, you say? Well, that is good. That is very good! But during these difficult times, Santa is going to have to dig a little deeper about your behavior.

Did you forget someone specials Birthday? Did you ignore the cashier in the grocery store while you talked on the phone? Or worse yet, did you stand there popping gum like a hooker working the streets on broad and main ? (please ladies, act a little more lady-like)

Were you in any way rude to your fellow-man? Couldn’t you have spared an extra moment to listen to that lonely widow?

Did you stop long enough to see the beauty God had placed in your way? Did you notice the sunshine that warmed up a cold winter day? Did you feel the love around you?

If you failed to do any of these things, I am afraid you may be in danger of receiving coal in your stocking this year.

I truly hope that your Holiday Stockings are filled with everything your heart desires, and your house is filled with love and laughter. Merry Christmas dear friends!!!

We had a recent storm with high winds that left a lot of  damage to trees, buildings, signs, and roadways. I can’t ever recall such high winds in this area before; it seems that Mother Nature has been on a collision course with Father Time.

The timing has really been bad since so many are already out of work and with Christmas here, they are already stressed out with problems about how to just make it through as it is.

A lot of “Christmas Tree Angels” are going un-chosen this year; as people are having a hard time just providing for their own.

Life can bring unexpected storms and hardships our way; but as we learn to overcome these difficulties, we grow stronger and more self-assured in our abilities to face adversity.

Life is not always a bed of roses; sometimes the thorns catch us unaware and cause us pain. But the beauty of the rose is still there to admire.

I wish for you many roses; and few thorns to get in the way.

We all have special memories of Christmas’s past. And I bet if you think about your favorite Christmas, it is rarely tied to material things, but rather the joy it brought to your heart in some way.

The true joy of the Holiday comes from the little things that we remember so well. The smell of freshly cut pine from the tree, the smell of oranges, and the smell of cinnamon candy. The beauty of sparkling and twinkling lights that warm up the night.

It is the joy of friendship that you share singing Christmas songs; the taste of Christmas cookies and candy made from loving hands; the wonder of a Christmas wish come true that you thought no one knew about but you; the loving closeness of family and friends; and the ultimate joy of seeing that special someone that your heart yearns for.

Here is wishing you all the joys and wonder of Christmas!! May it be filled with loving memories for years to come!!!

Here it is the last month of the year already; and another year has come and almost gone.

We are sure to have a busy month as the Holidays are fast approaching. The lights and decorations are up, and we are preparing for another Christmas.

I surely hope the “magic of the season” will bring all of your secret wishes to fruition and you will be filled with the joy that only this time of year brings forth.

Welcome to December; and may it be a happy one for you and yours!!