Ensuring Good Luck The Old-Fashion Way

     The Women’s Auxiliary of American Legion Post 7 put out the welcome mat at the start of 2005 to satisfy all us super-superstitious folk that believe eating black-eyed peas and cornbread is the ticket to good luck throughout the coming New Year. Also on the menu was a dish called “Hoppin-John,” a southern surecure for a hangover. Scores of people straggled in and out of the post home in Chapala, lining up for a bowl of good-luck black-eyed peas, or a Hoppin-John fix for a tequila headache. Although canned black-eyed peas are available in Ajijic, the dried beans are not. Always thinking ahead, some Auxiliary women had brought the dried beans back to Mexico from visits to the States for use in welcoming in the New Year. Everyone who benefited from the event can thank Mari Rutledge, Kim Barboutis, Wanda Bell, Anita Wickum and Linda Cline for organizing the event and preparing the menu.