Years ago, Easter Sunday was a happy day full of smiles, laughter, egg hunts, baskets and gatherings of relatives. We usually had some new clothing, mama had a hat, and we'd take photos on the front lawn before church.
Many years passed, my brother and I grew up, moved away and had children of our own. Easter remained special however, and generally one of us would travel to spend the holiday with mom and dad who eventually had moved to Sarasota, Florida. I always looked forward to spending time with them in Florida. We'd go to the beach or lounge around their pool and at some point, mom and I would go shopping. A visit to Siesta Key was usually on tap with a stop at the Lily Pulitzer shop. I looked forward to "a new frock" every year. In those days, "Lilly's" were very unique...lots of color and lace. I could wear my skirts short then and those dresses always made me feel very special.
We lost daddy in 1996 and mama moved to Wilson where Allen and I were living. She bought a cute, new "villa" home nearby and lived there happily for about five years before quickly succumbing to Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia which took her life in less than a week. It was a quick death and not much pain involved. She reported feeling as if she had the flu, weakened rapidly, became jaundiced, was hospitalized and died. The date was March 23 but it wasn't just any other day....it was Easter Sunday.
Since that day, I grieve her passing for more than a day - more like a season. The 23rd comes and goes but either shorty before or shortly after, here hops Easter. It's like losing her twice in one month. I think of her often for days before the 23rd, then the 23rd comes and I think of her and then I keep thinking about her until Easter Sunday (whenever that happens to be). It's like a never ending sadness. Mama loved life and she loved those who shared her life.
I will probably always continue to associate losing my mom with Easter. Gratefully though, I also have a belief in God and in His son, Jesus Christ. It's somewhat of a comfort to think that as Jesus rose again and joined his father in heaven, my mom's spirit soared up to meet them both.
"I go to prepare a place for you" said Christ. I trust that my mom is helping Him to prepare a place for me too.
