The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny surely did come to the Armga household every year. We had a core group of sturdy blond-colored baskets that must have represented an investment one year. They endured well and I still have one. Those baskets were supplemented with flimsier, more colorful baskets that didn't last as long.
We did have the plastic grass that today forms the cushion of the basket. I don't remember us having colors of grass to choose from. Perhaps they were available but we had green grass that I remember.
I've been trying to remember where we stored the baskets. Anyone remember? It could have been in the attic where the Christmas decorations were stored but I think I'd remember someone getting up there if that were true. Each bedroom (all 3) had a built-in closet with four pull-out draws underneath and four doors above that opened to reveal a deep storage space with one shelf. I've wondered if that is where they were stored.
The variety of Easter candies was nothing compared to what is available today. I remember jelly beans (very generic in flavor), marshmallow peeps (only yellow ones) and yucky marshmallow filled hard candy on the outside big (thumb sized) Easter eggs. I didn't like those. I do think we had the hollow chocolate bunnies that are still popular today but I don't think it was a high quality chocolate.
Snickers, Hershey's etc. were still candy bars and never included special papers or sizes to be included in Easter baskets. I don't think peanut M&Ms were marketed until the late 60s. The plain M&Ms only came in the primary-like colors. So none of these were considered Easter candy.
Plastic eggs to be filled with goodies also appeared in the 60s but I only remember jelly beans going in them.
I remember one year visiting with Peggy Kelker during the week after Easter. They lived on our block. Her dad was the professional photographer and newspaper man. Peggy still had lots of lovely candies and decorations in her basket. She explained to me how she only ate one or two candies a day. I was dumbfounded. That was totally foreign to my experience. I'm pretty sure it was always a candy fest at our house with me eating every last little candy I could get my grubby hands on the day OF the event and nothing lasted longer than that day unless it was yucky candy that I didn't really like and would only eat when there was no other candy to eat. Pacing myself was not a concept I had been introduced too. Eating TOO much candy was not possible. To eat as much candy as possible was the true meaning of the holiday (also true of Christmas and Halloween).
Yes, I do remember dying Easter eggs. I wasn't a fan of hard boiled eggs then (but I am now and LOVE egg salad sands) so was always confused about the excitement over eggs. My memory of dying the eggs was that it was a messy process involving a strong vinegar smell. We always had to buy the little kit that had pastel colored pellets for the dye and it included one wire egg holder. That didn't work well with four or more little kids wanting to help with the process.
While I don't personally remember going on an Easter Egg hunt, I remember helping my younger siblings at a hunt held at City Park across from the Junior High, near the Catholic church and where the band shell was.
At home the baskets were always hid and hard to find when we woke up Easter morning. I think they must have been labeled so we would know which one was prepared for us. I also think the baskets for the younger kids had to be easier to find while those hiding the baskets of the older kids worked harder at hiding them. But then, there was the ever changing line as to whether you were a younger or an older and at some point you got to be the basket preparer and hider. Mother and Dad seemed very willing to turn all that over to us which I remember being DELIGHTED to do.
The really big thing for Easter was the new clothes. And it was always the whole outfit: new dress, hat, purse, GLOVES, socks and shoes. Whoo! We would get so spiffed up! And taking a photo to document our gorgeousness was a big part of the thing. Many (most?) years we also had a little corsage. Doesn't seem like anyone wears a corsage today.
Since the date of Easter varies, some Easter were blustery and cold and some were warmer and balmy. We had a big dinner. I don't remember particulars. Probably a ham since that seems traditional in my mind. Plus Dad LOVED ham.
Going to church was important and that way we had a reason to dress up. The only significant year I remember in that regard would have been 1966. We were poor. So poor we couldn't get new Easter clothes. Somehow it was an embarrassment to not have those new clothes so we simply didn't go to church that Easter. That would never stop me now, but I think it was so expected that everyone -- at least the kids -- show up in new fancy clothes that it was feared that it would be a difficult visit at church and so staying home was the option to prevent pain.
Happy Easter Fam Damily!!! Please help me sort out these memories if I've got something wrong.

Happy Birthday Mother

I can't let this March 13 pass without remembering my mother on what would be her 89th birthday. Your family misses you mother. We are grateful for all you taught us and sacrificed for us.

The Help

I've had the chance to see the movie 'The Help' twice; once in Utah with LuAnn and Cherie and then back home with Pat. It is a gorgeous look at America's history with relationships. While provocative, it doesn't upset you or cause anguish. It actually has some great humor while also conveying a very serious storyline. It has given me much to think about. Cherie has read the book and said it is even better than the movie and I will also read it in a couple of months for Book Group. I look forward to it.
One scene in the movie has aerial views of one of the homes in Mississippi where a main character in the movie lives. What you hear though is a descriptive dialogue of something happening. This goes on for several minutes until it becomes clear that it is the TV broadcast of John F. Kennedy's funeral.
Hearing that description and then seeing the black and white images of Mrs. Kennedy and family bring back very vivid memories of the actual event. It was a scary, heart-stopping time in American history. What I most remember about the funeral, and why I wanted to blog about it, is seeing my Dad silently sit in his chair in the living room, watching the funeral on TV (everything shut down for a national day of mourning so Dad was home from work). He was not relaxed but literally sitting on the edge of his chair and he had tears streaming down his cheeks. He was never comfortable crying and letting others see his tears but I was so touched by his emotion. It communicated volumes about his feelings about America and this tragic event.

Childhood has many fears

These are the fears that haunted me:
Spiders -- that I'd find one that was bigger than me. This seemed to be a distinct possibility in the closet under the stairs off the laundry area.
That I would break the front window. No one could do that and then live to tell about it.
Getting spanked. It hurt. I didn't like getting spanked.
The dark; someone or something would reach out and grab me.
The Twilight Zone. I never actually watched this TV show. But my older siblings would tell me the stories in detail. This usually happened while we were sleeping outside in the back yard. I was scared 'spitless' -- whatever that is.

Happy Memorial Day

I have fond memories of how Memorial Day was commemorated by the family as I was growing up. And today, thinking about it, I just wanted to thank my Dad for:
teaching me to honor and reverence the American flag,
always acknowledging in his prayers his gratitude for living in a land of freedom and
teaching me respect for our country's leaders and those who serve in the military.
This is part of the legacy you left your family, dearest Dad. And we love you for it.
I recognize and want to acknowledge Dad's justified pride for the military service of Charles and his son John. And I know he is/would be proud of Jacob's love of serving his country. Dick Roth also served in the Army and Lawrence in the National Guard.

The Beloved Rituals

Saturday night watching Lawrence Welk
Taking turns grocery shopping with Mother and Dad -- at the Safeways downtown by Sears -- one child at a time and getting to pick out the candy bars, enough for everyone to have just one
Fried hamburgers
Potato pancakes from leftover mashed potatoes
Driving around to see Christmas lights on Christmas Eve
Going sledding with the sled pulled behind the car
Visits to Aunt Jean and Uncle Walker
Chili and donuts on Halloween
Going swimming at Nat-Su-Pa

Happy Birthday Mother

Happy 88th birthday mother. We love you.