Memories of Easter Celebrations Past--the Good and the Bad

Easter is my favorite holiday. I live in the southern part of the United States where it is usually warm by the time the holiday arrives. The return of life to plants and flowers reminds me of the incredible religious beliefs I have of the holiday.

The majority of my favorite celebrations were during childhood. Both of my grandmothers were living when I was a child so the celebration meant an egg hunt at each of their houses as well as my own. My paternal grandmother bought dresses for us girls and until the last holiday my mom took over the role in buying dressy clothes for her grandchildren.

There are various pictures from past Easters that remind me of the wonderfulness of family being together during the holiday. The earliest picture my paternal grandmother has of me included is one with my older sister and two older cousins in our dresses posing for the camera. My paternal grandmother has many photographs of her grandchildren looking for Easter-eggs. One holiday was so filled with sunshine every picture she took showed me with my eyes scrunched up trying to avoid the light. Another photo is of a cousin and I from the late 1980's when crimped hair was all the rage.

It seems like no matter what prior to the mid 1980's my family on both my father and mother's sides gathered for Easter. Family being together is the reason my childhood holiday memories are so special.

In 1993, I gathered some rolls of film my mom failed to develop at the time they were taken. There were rolls from Christmas and other holidays but the first one I saw stood out.

My cousin Laura died unexpectedly in 1983 at age 8. The first picture I saw when I opened the photographs was of her, holding a basket and standing in front of my paternal grandmother's door. I do not have a lot of memories of Laura due to both of us being so young at the time of her passing. This photograph makes the holiday it was taken one of my most special ones.

The next Easter that stands as significant is a painful one. The last time I saw my maternal grandmother alive was Christmas 1997. Some of my last words to her were, "I promise I will see you before Easter 1998." I was too absorbed in college to realize how fast time went by and failed to visit her following that Christmas. The approaching holiday is painful for me in some ways because of a failed promise to someone I deeply loved.

When I married into my husband's family his aunt Janice, one of the most amazing people I've ever met, began buying me baskets along with my husband, his sister, and ultimately our two children. She filled each basket with toys, candy, and other fun products. The last Easter I saw Janice was 2009. She had been sick with a rare type of cancer and did not seem to be recovering. I made certain to take a photo of her with Owen and Hannah that year. Janice died three months later. The picture I have of her with my children makes the 2009 Easter celebration very special.

Last Easter my mom was very ill. We did not realize she had cancer-only that she had lost a lot of weight. It was a beautiful day in spite of another round of late, cold weather shortening the growth of some flowers. One of the last photographs taken of my mom before she began chemotherapy was on that day. I treasure the photograph very much.

Spring signifies a lot of plant and flower life returning. Easter is celebrated as the day Christ arose from the grave. Because of what I know my Christ did for my loved ones and me, I understand I will see them again during a day when no celebration will be better.