HAPPY EASTER

Procrastinating in bed this morning, I thought about the fact it was Easter morning. That led me to think about how Easter has had many different iterations during my 76 years.

          I remember my childhood and how we kids (don’t remember about the parents because I was a kid and didn’t think about them) always got a new Easter outfit. I can remember getting new dresses, shoes and even gloves and bonnets. These were, of course, spring/summer clothing and we weren’t allowed to wear them as soon as they were purchased. The first wearing was to Sunday school and church.

          This led me to think about Sunday school, church, and youth fellowship, or whatever they called it. As a little kid, I loved Sunday school and church. I believed that if I was good, I would be rewarded. As I grew older, I had my first experience with discrimination and the fact that people who attend church and act a particular way when they are there don’t necessarily act that way the other six days of the week…unless there is choir practice or youth fellowship and then each and every one of my compatriots wore a beautiful shining halo.

          I do not have a lot of happy memories when it comes to attending church later on. The kids who went to Sunday school with me were rude and nasty at school because I lived on the wrong side of the railroad tracks (there were no tracks, but Fremont at that time was not the center of the Universe). I finally hated going to Sunday school or having to do anything that included most of these other kids that I stopped.

          Choir was wonderful and I loved singing. I was happy there and no one, including the choirmaster said or did anything that indicated I could not sing. Then, in fifth grade, I got a music teacher who told me I, “couldn’t carry and tune and was tone deaf.” She told me that in front of the entire class and continued to embarrass me by making me come to the front of the class when it was my turn, use the pitch pipe and lead the class in the first song of the day. I quit choir, positive everyone had just been nice, or my horrid singing was masked by the other voices.

          The final straw was when two men from my church, in suits, ties and hats came to my house. I was a mid-teenager then and had pledged to give a certain amount of money to the offering plate each week using the dated envelopes in which I would place my money. Since I had stopped attending, the church hadn’t received my offerings. These men were there to collect. I hadn’t realized I could be held liable if I didn’t give. I didn’t have the money and neither did my parents. It was very embarrassing. I think the only time(s) I ever went back to that church was for a wedding.

          Anyway, back to Easter. We always got an easter basket with candy. Today, I wouldn’t put a single piece of that stuff in my mouth. It was cheap and horrible, but as a kid, I didn’t care. I remember one year my Great Aunt Grace came from
Arizona and gave each of us a fancy Easter basket with premium candy in it (the first time I had expensive/good candy). Mine also included a little china dog whichI still have  all these years later. My mom always made a ham and invited family to join us. I remember those fun times with the extended family fondly.

          When I grew up and married, we usually went to my moms for Easter dinner. We didn’t buy much in the way of candy or anything else. Mom usually got an Easter lily and they always smelled wonderful.

          Once AJ was born, Easter became more fun for us. I remember his first Easter and how my sister brought him a HUGE Easter basket (which he still has) with two baby chicks in it…one was pink and one was blue. AJ was fascinated by them when they were placed on his high chair tray, but seriously what was I going to do with two baby chicks. Problem solved when I gifted them to the next door neighbors who raised, slaughtered and ate them.

          As the years passed, besides Easter baskets with lots of candy, we took to hosting a potluck brunch for family and friends. Those were always so much fun and, weather permitting, included Easter egg hunts. I think the last time I hid eggs outside; they were plastic and I put money in them instead of candy. I also remember the time the kids could not find the last egg. I finally found it months later and John instructed me to very carefully add it to the compost pile because it would most likely smell horrible if cracked in the house.

          After John’s death, I didn’t get a chance to see how Easter would be without him because the pandemic arrived and no one got together for anything. This Easter AJ and Angie are coming to dinner and I’m baking a ham. It won’t be as noisy, there’ll be no egg hunt, but it feels good to have at least two guests. Perhaps next year I can invite Thor and his family or, and this would be great too, invite other family members and friends. Hopefully, they’d be able to attend, but I’ve a feeling the pandemic has changed a lot of things, and a huge brunch might just be one of those things.

          My grandson Xander now has his own cell phone at the age of 7.5, and I may be one of the few people he can call or text. I tried to call him yesterday to wish him a Happy Easter, but he was busy at an Easter egg hunt. He did call me back and told me all about the hunt and how he got the most eggs...25. I asked him if he left any for the other kids and he said there were lots. I also told him with all that candy, the Easter bunny would be bringing him vegetables instead of candy. He promptly told me that wouldn't happen.

         Today, he called I don’t know how many times and figured out how to the video chat option. Using that, he was able to show me his room and how clean and organized it is as well as the Axolotl he got for his birthday last August…it’s much bigger now, but I must admit those front paws seem kinda creepy to me. When doing the video, I asked him if Nana was still pretty or just looked old...he told me old. Guess you shouldn't ask a question if you don't want the honest truth from a kid. Xander also loves to text and I have to laugh because he doesn’t know how to spell his sister’s name…he does it phonetically. If the weather cooperates, I may be taking him and Arayli to the zoo next weekend.

          Anyway, no church or Easter candy for me today, but a good dinner, base touching with family and warmth and sunshine. As I finish this post, I find I am deeply thankful to whatever deity there may be for my health, family, friends, nature’s beauty, and the promise of more days ahead.

          Hope your Easters were happy as well.