Easter memories

 My sisters were dressed in their Easter outfits, mini versions of moms, and me in a suit soon to be outgrown. A family picture with the Easter bunny will find its place in the photo album and other memories throughout the years. I remember once the picture was taken, Mom told us to hang up our Easter clothes as we'd be wearing them tomorrow for church.

On a springtime day in my youth, colored eggs were hidden, as were our baskets overflowing with colored foil goodies, jelly beans, and one larger-than-life chocolate bunny that Mom cut into chunks and froze for an occasional treat long past Easter.

As a family, we made our way up the stone steps of the church, careful to avoid the last remaining piles of snow that could ruin my sister's Easter shoes. 

The church was a splash of colored dresses and Easter bonnets. The smell of flowers mixed with perfumes and aftershave was almost too much to bear. People smiled at each other; some you knew, and others were just filled with the spirit of the day.

Even at a young age, my attention to the priest's words stayed with me throughout the day and beyond. While some gathered outside after the service to chat and catch up, I chose to wait in line to receive the priest's blessing. I told my mom it made me feel closer to God.

Back home, we changed our clothes as Mom made us brunch, and we emptied our baskets, trading different-colored jelly beans and other goodies buried in the fake grass.

Amped from eating too much candy, Dad told us to go outside and burn off the sugar we'd eaten. So, putting on warm clothes, we jumped on half-frozen puddles and made snowballs out of dirty snow, which would be the last snow we saw for a while.

Later, Easter dinner, which included a huge ham and all the trimmings that took up the entire table, was enjoyed along with laughter and another family memory in the making.

I hope your Easter is filled with new and old memories and a freezer full of chunks of chocolate to be saved for another day.

                                            HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Mike 2025