Kontan.

Easter is probably my favorite holiday. Yes, Christmas is exciting and wonderful, but I have great memories of Easter. With Gran being sick all of my life and not having much money, she made Easter extra special. She would make my basket, up until I was given my special basket, and she would make the candy too. We dyed eggs together and made the most beautiful creations. Our eggs were vivid and amazing. These days you dye eggs and they all end up pastels. We used real coloring that you had to be careful or it wouldn’t come off your hands for days. We would also paint eggs with whatever paint was around and a small brush. It was something we could do together. Because she was so creative her eggs were always spectacular. The basket I remember most was made out of a clorox bottle with an opening cut. It was covered in cotton balls so it would look like a rabbit. I was probably 6 years old that year. It was filled with candy. Homemade fudge, popcorn, and caramel were my favorites. There were a few store bought things. Peeps and tootsie rolls, but yummy caramel was my thing. I can’t remember when I received MY Easter basket, but it is beautiful. Woven sturdily with different colored wood strips it is perfect for holding candy and eggs. I’ll have to take a picture tomorrow, it is now my oldest daughter’s basket.

Usually I go to Birmingham the night before Easter and share it with my Aunt. Gran was her mom so she the holiday is really special to her too. We have an egg dying contest and then create the baskets after the kids go to bed. Store bought baskets may be easy, but they just aren’t as special to me. We put a lot of energy into creating cute baskets with the individual preferences in mind.

This year I decided to stay home for Easter eve. I don’t regret the decision, but the rest of my family isn’t “into” it as much as me. Sure, the girls love to dye eggs but it is a rather quick process. When in Bham the kids would finish but my aunt, cousin, and I would still be creating. Staying home has its advantages. Djembe gets to see the Easter basket reveal. He can’t go to Bham with us because he usually has a church to perform at. I get to take the girls to our home church for Easter services. Less stress, less people.

I will still take the girls to Bham tomorrow. It will be fun for them to hunt eggs and enjoy their cousins, but it will be great to sleep in my own bed tonight and tomorrow night.

For those celebrating…Happy Easter!