Easter Reflection

Photo by: fourstuarts

First, I want to wish you all a happy Easter. I hope that it was a peaceful, joyous day for you all, that you enjoyed it how you had hoped.

When I think of the Easter of my childhood, bluebonnets immediately spring to mind. No matter what time of year Easter fell, it seemed that our backyard had a thick blanket of bluebonnets, just waiting to help us take the perfect Easter photos. There are several shots of my sister and I, bedecked in our matching dresses and hats, wading through the oasis of blue in an otherwise drab brown of the surrounding field. (Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of any of those photos at hand, so you are stuck with a stock image instead.)

There was an egg hunt, too. Never one to be very competitive, I looked for the more elusive ones that even my mom had forgotten, letting my sister make the mad dash to the more obvious ones. I knew better than to get in her way, even then, and really, the prize of a plastic pastel egg with a penny or dime in it was not really worth being tackled. Candy was reserved for the Easter basket, but even then it wasn't much. Maybe a hollow chocolate bunny, maybe a few Hershey kisses. I was never sure why that was, but when Easter candy showed up a few days later, I realized that my mom and grandma, ever the savvy shoppers, waited until everything was discounted before buying. I see the wisdom of their actions now, but as a child I admit feeling a bit deprived of the sugar-induced coma associated with the holiday. 

Present-Day Easter Basket -- Thanks, Mom and Dad for the flowers!

I more than able to make up for it this Easter as I gorged myself on jelly beans, chocolate eggs, and carrot cake. There may have been some other food involved, too, and lots of family around. Like with most family gatherings, at some point I ended up in the kitchen cleaning dishes (it is the quietest place in the house!).  My uncles managed to get something on the roof. My aunt herded the children around, making sure that they were running off their sugar highs. My grandma watched it all going on, enjoying the time with her family but also appreciating just how much we enjoy sharing in each other's company. It is all great fun, and it is amazing how fortunate I am to be a part of it all.

Still, I long for the quieter days where it was just a few of us, but I think it is the bluebonnets I miss most of all.