My Favorite Easter Memory

When I was a little girl we lived with my grandparents until I was about 10 years old. I was the apple of my grandfather's eye. When he got home from work he expected me to be dressed and ready for dinner. After dinner I was all his. He took me all over Baltimore City and probably Baltimore County too. He knew everyone and he had to show me off. That was when my favorite Easter memory was first taking shape.

A real good time to 'show off' a little was Easter Sunday. Back in those days people walked, a lot! I remember walking around our neighborhood in East Baltimore; everyone dressed in their new outfits. The kids didn't even mind wearing the silly hats just for one day! We always picked up more candy along the way as neighbors came out to admire us!

My grandfather's love of Easter began long before I was born, or so my mother used to tell me. I was only 8 months old my first Easter so my Easter parading was done in my carriage! I got a beautiful Easer basket from "Harry" as I affectingly refer to him sometimes. My grandfather found someone in the city who made the baskets. I obviously don't remember that first Easter, although I do have memories of the Easters a few years later. The memories that I still keep with me today are all stored in that Easter basket.

This is how I remember it:

When I think of Easter I remember my Easter basket that was brimming over with lovely treasures. There was always a large chocolate bunny in the center surrounded by jelly beans and marshmallow peeps and always some cream eggs that were hand made a lady my uncle worked with at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The basket had a large bow that was always new and different each year. But the basket, oh the basket was the star of the show. My grandfather had it made for me for my first Easter. I still have that basket. When I see it I don't think of the candy that was inside, I think of my grandfather and how much he loved me. I only had him for 10 years, but I still have the basket so his love lives on in my heart.

Give an Easter memory to someone you love. You may never realize how important something like an Easter basket can be to a child later on in life!

As side story - my Grandfather died two days before Halloween when I was about 10 years old. My grandmother wanted Easter Lilies for his casket because he had loved Easter so much. They were not easy to find in October, but eventually they were located and at quite a price. This was back in the late 50's don't forget! I did not know that story until I was preparing for my wedding. My mother and I were at the florist ordering flowers. When we got to what flowers I wanted for my bouquet I said "Easter Lilies" since I was getting married in April. My mother said, 'No, not those flowers pick something else." That was all she said on the subject.

When we got home she told me the story of the Easter Lilies and my grandmother's desire to have them for my grandfather's casket. Then I understood why I could not have Easter Lilies for my wedding bouquet. After that I always made sure to give my mother lilies at Easter in honor of her father, my grandfather, Harry.

Make someone's day. More important, make an Easter memory for a lifetime