Easters Past

I'm standing outside this morning with coffee in hand watching the family across the street hide and hunt Easter eggs.  It's pulling at my heart strings thinking about those innocent moments with the girls that are long gone.  I'm so thankful for getting to experience those times!

I remember how much I loved coloring eggs when I was little.  I think Mother must have really liked Easter, because I can see her excitement getting all the little bowls ready for the eggs.  She and I both loved the vinegar smell from the dye solution.  Was Daddy in charge of hiding the eggs?  Probably, but I don't truly remember.

I wish I could see the old photos of me and DeeBee hunting for eggs.  I want to look at all the details - the new dresses, the shoes, the baskets.  I want it to spark memories that I haven't thought of for years.  I want to remember what it was like when we were a family. 

I have a feeling I'll participate in Easter egg hunting again some day, but as a grandma.  That's crazy to think about, but probably realistic.  I have a feeling it'll be some of my favorite Easter moments yet.

Wildfire

Since I seem to have little to say, I'll share this poem that Addison entered in the college's poetry contest.  I think it's cool (and very timely):

http://addison-renee.blogspot.com/2011/04/poetry-contest-entry.html

Missing

When I got home from school yesterday I noticed Junior wasn't around and wasn't in the house.  Not a big deal - he was probably staying cool in the next door neighbor's shrubs, but normally he would come out when I pull in the drive.  But later as we left to go to dinner and a ballgame with friends, he still wasn't around.  Kind of odd, since it was close to his dinner time.

Still, he is a cat and cats do things according to their plans.  We go to dinner and the game, and I start texting Addison to see if he's shown up.  I know something's wrong when hours later he still isn't home.  Junior doesn't prowl far from home.  He usually won't go further than halfway down the driveway and certainly no further than one house over.  And we'd figured out that no one had seen him since the morning.

We ended up going home a little early from the game, because I was really starting to worry about this mean brat of a cat that I love.

Addison and Jeffrey and Alan and I get flashlights and start searching.  He's nowhere.  We knock on neighbors' doors asking if they've seen him.  I'm getting close to tears when I decide to check unusual places in the house while the others search outside.  The cabinets.  I hadn't checked the cabinets.  I start in the kitchen and then check the hallway bathroom.  And there in the linen closet is one hungry but happy cat.  Addison remembers closing the cabinet door early that morning and no one had opened it since.

I showered him with hugs and kisses that he, of course, smugly turned away from.  But that told me that everything was back as it should be.