This morning as I walked around my house straightening up from last night festivities, I noticed a small bowl of salt sitting on the table.  I’d used it to salt the chocolate from the fondue pot, which was divine!

It reminded me of a few things at once.

First, a month or so ago, I’d gone to Whole Foods right before closing.  It had been a busy day, but I still needed supplies.  I usually try not to arrive right before closing knowing most employees want to jet at the end of their work day, so to compensate, I raced around the store as I moved through my list.

In the spice aisle I picked up a bag of salt, curious as to whether it contained iodine.  As I went to place the bag back on the shelf, it slipped and hit the ground.  Even though it was a short fall, the impact was enough to burst the bag.  Not wanting to just leave it, but also feeling terrible for the mess, I hunted down an employee.  They’re always nice there and this time was no exception.  Leigh told me to leave it and she would clean it up.  And not to worry, it happens all the time.

Having collected everything I needed, I rushed up to the check out, and caught the corner of a wine display with my cart.  With the reflexes of a cat, and someone who drops things often, I was able to grab one bottle, but not the other.  Several employees rushed over and politely refused my request to help clean it up.  Now I was shopping late AND leaving a trail of mess behind me!  Again my apologize was brushed off with “it happens all the time.”

When I got to the car and after the embarrassment wore off, I wondered at the significance.  Lately I’m of the opinion that everything happens for a reason.  Though maybe in this case the reason was because I was hushing, but I googled “salt and wine” all the same.  The closest match came back as a Polish wedding tradition of salt, wine, and bread.  While I thought it was interesting, I didn’t see a connection.

I promptly forgot about it until right before Christmas.  This year, instead of our usual Christmas movies, we watched ones we hadn’t seen before.  One of those was It’s a Wonderful Life.  While I knew the general premise of the movie I had never seen it.  I was surprised at just how good it was and I totally sobbed at the end.

But there was a part in the middle which gave me pause.  It was the scene of the house warming when Mary says:

“Bread, that this house may never know hunger. Salt, that life may always have flavor.  And wine, that joy and prosperity may reign forever!”

I also remembered when I saw the bowl of salt that I’d completely forgotten to perform any New Year’s Eve traditions at midnight.  I’d wanted to walk outside with my luggage to represent my wish to travel this year.  I had cleaned my house to prepare for the party, but that felt more like a happy coincidence rather than getting ready for the new year.

Walking on the beach with my dad tonight we’d found flowers scattered along the water line.  The daisies in the light of the full moon were enchanting.  As I was googling New Year’s Eve traditions for this blog I discovered why they were there.  According to this article, placing flowers into the ocean while wearing white, is a way to inspire good luck and fortune.  You just know I’ll be doing that next year!

So this morning as I gazed at the small bowl of salt, I decided on the spot to make my intentions for the new year clear.  I lit the candles I had on the table to bless the party.  One would not light, so I left it to honor those whose who were no longer with us.  I poured a bit of the wine and retrieved a roll I’d made the day before.

I said a prayer of gratitude for the year passed and a blessing for the year begun.  Then I broke out the hummus and turkey and made myself a snack.  I salted it before taking a bite and took a sip of the wine.

The blessing I said earlier for the new year was a simple one, but after researching everything tonight, I wish this blessing for all of you:

Thank you all for the light and love you have brought into my life.

Bread, that your house may never know hunger.

Salt, that your lives may always have flavor.

And a toast, that joy and prosperity may reign in your lives forever!

Amen.