Southern Snow

Winters come to the southern mountains in lots of different days. It brings sunny, warm breezes, and dark drizzles. Some days even bring snow.

Winter Days in the Southern Mountains

Early January. No leaves on the trees. No clouds in the sky. That is typical of the southern mountains of America in the dead of winter.

The sun falls with intenisty upon the earth, blasting down through the leafless trees upon the ground with the power to stir the earth and split seeds asunder.

Here, on my driveway under my house, I see a world of magic. There is no sign of life, yet it is abundantly present. It is real life, but below the ground. The leaves don't grow, the trees don't appear to grow, but their roots grow happily and network with each other and strengthen their connection with themselves and their mother the earth. They enrich the soil, gather nourishment to themselves and prepare for miracles soon to come.


© John Womack, 2007. All rights reserved.

Hoppin' John

You know you are a southerner, and that it is New Year's Day when you settle in for a great meal of Hoppin' John - the only meal in the world that can guarantee you financial good fortune in the year that began today! But ONLY if you eat it on New Year's Day.

Legend has it that the greens in the meal will bring greenbacks fluttering into your hands all through the year to come, and the black-eyed peas will attract lots of coins. Add more onions (at least 4 cups of carmelized Spanish onions) and a handful of chopped scallions along with tomato wedges, all this must be blessed with hot-pepper vinegar and a dash of soy sauce and your fortune for the year to come is then secure - but only IF - you have have greasy cornbread, slathered with real butter while it is so hot that the butter melts into the pone - THEN - you can go forward confidently into the New Year with unfettered happiness.

Go call your broker!

© John Womack, 2007. All rights reserved.