The Easter of my childhood involved 1 hour at church, a large family meal with my mother's family and 2 to 3 sets of Easter baskets. But my favorite thing about Easter was the large chocolate rabbit that my great grandmother Angela would send me from New York. Senior Bunny.
My paternal grandfather's family left Cuba when he was 5 and they wound up in NYC. Too bad, I was told they were aiming for Canada. Angela never lost the accent.Although my sister and I were her 2nd and 3rd great grandchildren and the fact that we were born and raised half a continent away, perhaps only seeing each other maybe a half dozen times, we'd get a package around every Easter with the fabled chocolate bunny. Not just any chocolate but high quality stuff from NYC. All other bunnies never tasted quite as good. This ended maybe about 1982. It was a good run and every Easter I miss it.
Easter today is a busy holiday for me. Since September I have been part of the RCIA team helping anywhere from 10 to 21 people come into full communion with the Catholic Church. Easter Vigil on Saturday is D-Day. It starts out in the morning with breakfast and practice at the church. I've learned my lesson about showing up hung over. No fun. Around noon we go our separate ways until about 7pm, Easter Vigil.
Easter Vigil is perhaps the longest Catholic liturgical service. The church is dark and then they light the Easter candle and from that candle everyone lights their candles. I've seen people accidentally set fire to the hair of the person in front of them. Then the readings, up to 6 or more, Old Testament through the Gospel. People are baptised. Some are confirmed. Some receive their first Eucharist. It ends about 10 pm.
Sometimes I have the distinct honor of being the lector on Easter Sunday proper. Once again, I will do the readings on Sunday.
Then we focus on the family. In years past we would load everyone up and travel to Ottumwa. Most often we would stay at my parents' house. My kids would have a variety of Easter baskets waiting for them. Easter egg hunts were common. In recent years the dinner and basket presentation would be at our home or my sister's. but Being the only one with children I prefer to establish our own traditions. it won't be long until the older children leave the nest. Besides, it makes little sense for the 7 of us to travel across town when less people can come over here. This year my non-nuclear family is one person less. Possibly there will be at max two people that will be able to come over. I merely want a meal and have some of the weekend to myself. I have no desire to travel across or out of town. Dora is the only one that is young enough to get a basket. Perhaps I will dye eggs with her Friday night.
Now a week later, my mother is still in town. We had a meal here but Quin had to work. Mom would later remark to him that she'd rather have had ham. Too bad. I can do more with left over pork than I can do with ham. Less sodium anyway. One can always fix ham. Pork loins are less common. Besides, I bought it from one of the few remaining family owned meat counters in the nation.
No comments:
Post a Comment