Adieu, Adieu, to you and you and you...

May 27, 9:16 AMDenver Dining ExaminerStan Dyer

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Blame it on "The Big Easy"

Borrowing the words of Chico Esquela, this year, 2009, has been very, very good to me.  I began the year, right at midnight, in Jackson Square in New Orleans.  That’s a good start in my book.  I also spent New Year’s Eve following my own advice and eating all those “Good Luck” foods prescribed by the Chinese, long noodles for long life, rice for abundance, and plenty of “green” for plenty of “money”.  I did not stop there.  I also ate all the good luck foods, (black-eyed peas), and followed all the good luck rituals passed down through family tradition.  No, I am not superstitious, but what could it hurt? I have heard, “It may not help, but it can’t hoit”, and now I have definitive proof.  

Noodles for long life, rice for abundance.

I can’t be certain which, if any, of those things worked, or if it was just the right combination, but the recipe turned out as sweet as any I have ever concocted.  Shortly after returning from the impromptu reunion in New Orleans, Lady Luck began stalking me like a jilted girlfriend bearing gifts.  Almost everywhere I turned, and almost everywhere I looked, there she would be, just smiling and getting ready to grab me again and plant another long, wet kiss on my unexpectant lips.  I hate to admit I fell for such contrived and calculated courting, but she was persistent, and she presented a compelling argument.  How could I refuse?

Greens for money, money, money....money!

Hey, there may be some fortune in it for you, my readers, as well.  As a result of the sudden influx of positive fortune in my life, and confidence growing larger than even the head that tries to contain it, I am giving notice of my intent to vacate Examiner to taste that greener-looking grass over on the other side of the fence.  Oh, I know what they say about that, but I am the type of person who always has to find out for himself.  Two weeks from today, Wednesday, June 10, 2009, I will post my last article for Examiner.

Of course, black-eyed peas.

I want to thank Examiner for their faith in me and the opportunity that “planted the seeds”.  I can’t imagine a better life than eating, and then writing about those experiences, but one can only stay at the dinner table so long before leaving to make room for others.  I am full and now pass the torch.  

I especially want to thank my loyal readers for sticking with me, reading all my garbled messages, and living vicariously through me.  Your thoughts, suggestions and ideas were all gratefully accepted and appreciated.  Who knows?  Maybe one of you will be inspired to take my place?  What could it hoit?  

I can see clearly now, or, "There's a signpost up ahead..."

During the next two weeks, I will, of course, continue to fulfill my obligation to my employer, but, at the same time, I will be embarking on a special project.  My project will mean little to younger generations, but it should make people of my generation smile a long time.  I call it, “This used to be…” and it will be a memory lane tribute and photo essay recounting all the places where we hung out, where we dined, and where we grew up.  It will be my swan song followed by a short chorus of that little ditty from “The Sound of Music”, “Adieu, Adieu, to you and you and you….” as I escape Austria and flee to the New World.