My Last Easter Memory of Dad

Easter 2009 started out like a normal holiday. Our family tradition was to get up early, do whatever chores we had to do, and then focus on family. Dad would cook up not only a ham but a turkey and it was a feast similar to Thanksgiving. We would have squash, dressing, potatoes, apple pie, asparagus, ham, turnkey, cranberry, and eat like pigs.

Dad had just turned 85 with a multitude of health problems hitting him. He was more or less confined to the living room chair so this particular Easter, we had to improvise the cooking. It was mom and myself who did the smaller version of the feast. We just did ham, dressing, potatoes, asparagus and pie.

After our dinner feast, we would all retire to the living room and do presents. Yes, Easter was like Christmas only in spring fashion instead of winter. Dad would usually get his cherry chocolates, Easter candy, clothing, exactly like a mini Christmas. I would get a card with money it it, mom would get a variety of Easter presents too and all of their gifts would be crammed into Easter Baskets instead of Christmas stockings.

We would sit and remember this year and that year for hours. The past Easters were so much more fun as we could all go outside.

This last Easter, dad and I sat and talked for a long time. He told me a lot of his World War II memories of jumping off a plane in the Aleutian Islands and landing on the land. Those who didn't hit land hit water and it was so cold they wound up dying. He had so many war stories. It was nice to just sit and listen to him and hear his past. I think he knew it was the last holiday we'd be together. It was only 4 days later he died. I can still hear all those stories in my head and see him sitting in his recliner opening the last Easter basket. RIP dad.