VARIOUS TOPICS

 

Forum: RANDOM NOSTALGIA

TOPIC: 

A Baseball Cap for an Easter Bonnet

Created on: 03/26/10 12:08 PM Views: 2266 Replies: 1
A Baseball Cap for an Easter Bonnet
Posted Friday, March 26, 2010 07:08 AM

  A personal reflection************************************ 

 
This coming Easter Sunday, as I have done for the last twelve years or so, I'll step into my flip flops,snap a baseball cap in place, grab my beach chair and walk out with a cup of coffee as   my husband reminds me that if I want to get a good place on the beach before the sun rises, I better hurry, so we leave before 5:30 AM.  We drive east to Ft. Lauderdale beach to attend the non  denominational sunrise Easter Service.  We arrive as they are setting up and I look around to see who's there.  Just before dawn,  while the stars still shine, the oranges, gold and blue  begin to color the sky, I remember the line in the Odyssey:  "Rosey- fingered dawn"  The scene is breathtaking and I'm sure  all over the world many women have carefully  set out their elegant outfits, but as for me, a Florida Gators cap is my Easter bonnet. 
 
 It's usually just a little chilly on the beach at that hour, I'm always inviting different people to join us, they will say that no, it's too early, but my brother- in -law and his lady have joined us the past few years.  I look at the surf and think back to other Easter Sundays.  New Bedford in the North End, 1958, my first Easter in America and through the  1960's walking to Immaculate Conception Church at the corner of Earle and Diman Street and across from Sarah D. Ottiwell school.   We got married there in 1968.  I smile to myself thinking back to all the preparations for church at Easter. We 'd shopped for days for just the right shoes to match the hat, to match  the gloves to match the spring coast to match the dress. Easter ended Lent, which in my house was strictly observed, it was a struggle for me to keep from singing out on Good Friday, my Mom would silence me many times as we did house work.  I was lucky to have been brought up to respect all faiths and many times Mom would retell the stories  I remember her telling us that after all, the last supper was a ceder when a discussion on Jewish culture took place.   
 
Ten o'clock Mass, it was the American Mass, celebrated in English.  My mom was a gifted dressmaker but at Easter we'd shop at the old Arlans, Fairhaven Mills for  bargains.  Star Store to daydream, Cherries to drool.  Shopping was never one of my favorite things to do much to my sister's chagrin, I'd rather read or listen to music.  
 
 Still though I couldn't help it,  I'd look around to  check out everyone's Easter  outfits  and struggle with paying attention to the words from the altar.   I admit my mind wandered looking over the people filing for communion.  After Mass, we'd greet people and walk home, I can see us,  my sisters Cecilia, Judy, Terry and the two "babies" Armando Jr. and Betty, who were born in America,  and we'd pose for the usual pictures in front of our house right next to the funeral parlor at the corner of North front and Nash road. Mom always had chocolate bunnies for us and after dinner we'd say it was the best Easter ever every year.
 
When I told Mom we went to the sunrise service at the beach in the 90s, she wanted to know if I also went to a Catholic Mass.    The years blend together as I enjoy the pictures in my mind, the Easter egg hunts in the local park with my kids as young children, different people we've shared holidays with and then coming back to the present.   A flock of birds bisect the sky just as the sun rises and the songs begin on a dais on  top of  a flatbed truck, local dignitaries are seated, and I'm glad the usual talented soloist, tenor and singers are there.  I love to hear the songs, watch the rising sun, the waves breaking on the sand and feel the air getting warmer, I feel lucky to enjoy the Creator's own cathedral.   
 
Happy Spring to all.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
 
 
 
This coming Easter Sunday, as I have done for the last twelve years or so, I'll step into my flip flops,snap a baseball cap in place, grab my beach chair and walk out with a cup of coffee as   my husband reminds me that if I want to get a good place in the beach before the sun rises, I better hurry, so we leave by 5:30 AM.  We drive east to Ft. Lauderdale beach to attend the non denominational annual sunrise Easter Service.  We arrive as they are setting up and I look around to see who's there.  Just before dawn,  while the stars still shine, the oranges, gold and blue  begin to color the sky, I remember the line in the Odyssey:  "Rose fingered dawn"  The scene is breath taking and I'm sure right then and there all over many women  have carefully set out their outfits, but as for me, a Florida Gators cap is my Easter bonnet. 
 
 It's usually just a little chilly on the beach at that hour, I'm always inviting different people to join us,  they will say that no, it's too early, but my brother -in -law and his lady have joined us the past few years.  I look at the surf and think back to other Easter Sundays.  New Bedford in the North End, 1958, my first Easter in America and through the  1960's walking to Immaculate Conception Church at the corner of Earle and Diman Street and across from Sarah D. Ottiwell school,.   We got married there in 1968. I smile to myself thinking back to all the preparations for church at Easter. We 'd shopped for weeks for just the right shoes to match the hat, to match  the gloves to match the spring coast to match the dress.
Easter ended Lent, which in my house was strictly observed, it was a struggle for me to keep from singing out all day on  Good Friday, my Mom would silence me many times as we did house work.  I was lucky to have been brought up to respect all faiths and all people.   Ten o'clock mass, it was the American Mass, celebrated in English.  My mom was a gifted dressmaker but at Easter we'd shop at the old Arlans, Fairhaven Mills for  bargains.  Star Store to daydream, Cherries to drool.  Shopping was never one of my favorite things to do much to my sister's chagrin, I'd rather read or listen to music.  
 
 Still though I couldn't help it,  I'd look around to  check out everyone's Easter  outfits  and struggle with paying attention to the words from the altar.   I admit my mind wandered looking over the people filing for communion.  After Mass, we'd greet people and walk home, I can see us,  my sisters Cecilia, Judy, Terry and the two "babies" Armando Jr... and Betty, who were born in America.    We'd pose for the usual pictures in front of our house right next to the funeral parlor at the corner of North Front and Nash Road. Mom always had chocolate bunnies for us and after dinner we'd say it was the best Easter ever every year.
 
 When I told Mom we went to the sunrise service at the beach in the 90s, she wanted to know if I also went to a Catholic Mass.  Sometimes I'd do both.  The years blend together as I enjoy the pictures in my mind, the Easter egg hunts in the local park with my kids as young children, different people we've shared holidays with and then coming back to the present.   A flock of birds bisect the sky just as the sun rises and the songs begin on a dais on  top of  a flatbed truck, local dignitaries are seated, and I'm glad the usual talented soloist, tenor and singers  are there.  I love to hear the songs, watch the rising sun, the waves breaking on the sand and feel the air getting warmer, I feel lucky to enjoy the creator's own cathedral.   
 
Happy Spring to all.

 

 
 
 
Edited 03/26/10 07:12 AM
RE: A Baseball Cap for an Easter Bonnet
Posted Sunday, March 28, 2010 11:31 AM

Hi Maria, Love the story....Nancy