Every Saturday I'll try to come up with some "out there" question that just makes you stop and think about something not so important. Think of it as a mini vacation. If you have any ideas drop me a line and we'll throw it in here. Who knows, it might be fun.
OK - Here goes:
It's Easter. What is your favorite memory or tradition about this holiday weekend? I realize that Easter is a Christian holiday but it's like Christmas - it's become a part of our society. Seems like everyone joins in one way or another.
I have no tradition anymore regarding Easter. Haven't for the past 10 years. But ohhhh do I have memories.
My favorite memory is from when I was 9 years old. Maybe it's so special because that was the last Easter with Daddy - either way it's one of those warm fuzzys I cherish.
The week between Palm Sunday and Easter we went shopping. Clothes shopping. Remember back when everyone got a pretty, new outfit for Easter? I was a clothes horse even then. I wanted something pretty and light and the skirt HAD to swirl out and swish when I walked.
We were on our 4th store and Mama was running out of patience when I saw IT. Oh. My. Goodness. It was everything I wanted and more. A very pretty peach color, long skirt that swirled out as I twirled. I could feel the hem swish against my legs as I walked. I felt so grown-up. So pretty. And then...Mama let me pick out shoes and a purse to go with it. WOW. That hardly ever happened. And then, of course I had to have gloves. No properly attired young lady didn't have gloves to go with her dress. For cryin' out loud.
I was in heaven. I couldn't wait to get home and show Daddy my treasure. I even passed up ice cream so that I could get home and model it for him.
We get to the house and bull dog Tammi rushes into her room stripping as she charges through the house. Not listening to a thing anyone was saying.
I get all gussied up, even combed my hair so he would get the full effect, and went looking for my Daddy. I found him out in the garage, working on the lawn tractor. I rush into the garage stall he's in, again not listening to anything, and proceeded to slip on an oil spot and fall on my ass. Oh, I braced myself with my hands as I fell, so I didn't hurt myself. BUT...the damage was done.
Oil. Black, slimey oil. All over the seat of my skirt. My gloves. The bottom of my shoes. Everywhere.
I sat there stunned. Then the tears started to well. Daddy couldn't help it. He was laughing. I suppose my face was telling one hell of a story.
Damn....my beautiful Easter outfit - ruined. And there was no time to shop for another. Plus nothing would be the same - no dress could compare.
I slump back into the house to get the lecture from Mama. I knew I was gonna get it. I should have paid more attention. Surprisingly enough she just told me to go get out of it and put it in the "special spot" for really dirty clothes.
Easter morning dawns early at our house. There is sunrise service, breakfast at church and then the Main Event. It was still dark out when Mama came to get me. I meandered out to the living room where everyone was waiting for me so we could do our egg hunt.
There on the couch was a box. A big box. Dawn (my sister) was prancing around saying.....Its for you. Open it! Open it!
It was my dress. And my shoes. And my gloves. AND a pretty new hat!! Somehow, Mama had found the time (and the money) to go and get me an exact duplicate of that outfit. To this day I don't know how, we weren't rolling in money and she was a very busy lady. But I know there could not have been a happier little girl that Easter Sunday.
So tell me - what is your favorite memory of Easter Weekend?
Posted by Tammi at March 26, 2005 08:33 AM | TrackBackAwww, that is just too sweet!!
Posted by: Sissy at March 26, 2005 09:12 AMWhat a wonderful story, Tammi. Thank you.
I just remember Easter Sunday Mass being incredibly long! I hated it! There were no child-friendly liturgies in the Seventies, so it was all completely incomprehensible. I think I got through all those hours in Church by reading the Hymn Book.
How my Mother managed to keep two chocolate-filled children silent and still for over an hour, I'll never know!
Posted by: Sally at March 26, 2005 02:50 PMTammi - I loved this so much I have to go find some photos to post at my place! I don't have any Easter traditions anymore either. I'm older than you - but remember the shopping & clothes, purse & gloves. I still wear gloves - but I've no idea where any of my purses are now.
One memory I have is that we celebrated 2 Easters, and the smell of lamb roasting on spits in yards on Orthodox Easter in Astoria. Not ours, though!
Posted by: Karen at March 26, 2005 04:15 PMIt was 1976. My father knew someone whose parents owned a place on Amelia Island and they offered it up to us for Easter. We packed up the car and spent the weekend there. My folks have different funny memories from that weekend, but the one we laugh about as kids, is after we found all the eggs, we took them outside and hid them again, and again, and again. Sometimes we hid them in the house.
The last time we hid them... we only found 11. We never found that 12th egg. We wonder how long it took before it rotted... somewhere... :)
Posted by: Boudicca at March 26, 2005 11:06 PMTammi - curse you for making me mist up at work.
Makes me want to have a daughter just so I could do that for her some day :-)
Posted by: Harvey at March 28, 2005 11:29 AMWell, I think I just had my best Easter weekend ever.
I got to spend time with my Mom. And my Dad. And my brothers. And I talked with my sister twice.
And I'm seeing the end of a long, dark tunnel in my life.
And I've spent more time on the phone, talking, than I have in my entire life. It is amazing how The Universe arranged this weekend such that as busy as I was, I still had *hours* to talk. I'm kinda floating today (my first day back) because I'm so giddy at all the yakking I've done. :)
Posted by: _Jon at March 29, 2005 09:33 AM