46f/7.8C, overcast after a night of rain. Yesterday's high was 87f. Crazy weather.
Patent leather shoes, vaseline-polished,
white lace-timmed anklets,
wide-brimmed hat freshened from last year
with tiny fake flowers, a ribbon
to tie under my chin--
crinolines of stiff tiered nylon net,
dress a cousin's hand-me-down,
ironed and new to me,
pale blue with a white collar--
hair pin-curled, held
with pink and blue barrettes;
clean white gloves,
a little pocketbook to hold
my hanky and my pennies
for the collection plate.
It was ritual: the getting ready
on Easter morning,
the two-block walk to church
to sing joyful "He is Risen!" hymns,
then home.
The table set for breakfast
with an Easter basket
at each child's place,
gleaming, enticing
candy riches
which could not be touched until
after eggs, bacon toast, tea.
Ah, the anticipation!
Jelly beans and squishy peeps,
chocolate eggs and a big
chocolate rabbit
all just the prelude
to the sugar-fueled adrenaline rush
to find the first, the best, the most
eggs tucked under boards, into bushes,
some never found, some
found by the dog and devoured,
leaving only shells for seekers.
The rest of the morning--
being quiet while weary parents
napped after Bunny duties.
We sorted jelly beans, trading the licorice
for anything, even yucky green ones,
trying not to eat all the chocolate,
and eating all the chocolate,
believing in the miracle,
believing in the magic,
believing all the world
was fair and good
on Easter day
in 1959.
Me in 1959
Yes that could be me, circa 1950, except my mother confiscated the chocolate and handed it out in small doses over many days. When my children were that age, circa 2075 or so, our dog would find the chocoate eggs and eat same, causing some really weird poops, if you will excuse the crudity.
ReplyDelete...great times.
ReplyDeleteI didn't come along till 1962 but Easter was always special back then.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to you
Memories of the past.
ReplyDeleteToday 4 granddaughters here for an egg hunt. Plastic eggs with candy inside courtesy of oldest daughter's efforts. They had fun even letting the 4 year old have a set aside area to focus on though she die well there and branched out into the rest of the territory.
Loved it. I have many similar memories.
ReplyDeleteStill remember a purple and white Easter dress and jacket I got one year! There were 12 of us kids but we always had Easter outfits. Probably most were hand me downs but that one was not and I loved it! Kathy
ReplyDeleteA large family! You have fond memories of your Easter days. They sound wondrous to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely charming, filled with such memory and love. The sugar-filled adrenaline rush! I love it. All of it.
ReplyDeleteThat poem brought some old memories for me too. Thank you.
ReplyDelete