Around Easter ...

Easter 1986:

It has been said that wedding ceremonies should only be performed at Our Lady of Lourdes because it obviously takes a miracle to make a marriage work...twenty six married Easter Sundays later; here we are. We were married in Miami and in Braga, Portugal.

In '86, at the height of the disco revolution, we were civilly married and soon after celebrated our marriage in a non-denominational church. It was a great ceremony followed by a life that could be categorized like any other; great on some days and not so much on others. The begining of married life was a Feng Shui type of beginning; for him it was about learning to put the toilet seat down and for me it was a lesson in squeezing the tooth paste from the bottom. Normale!

We later married once again in Portugal.  Once again civilly and then in the Catholic Church. I guess we had now been married four times in all -- to each other. In our case, we have only loved once. But if you work it right, once is enough.

Easter 2004:

A short eight years ago, Tony and I renewed our marriage vows at Immaculate; family at our side. Not sure why that particular year, but year eighteen seemed to be as good a time as any for a celebration.  If my math is correct, to date, we have exchanged vows five times.

 Easter 1968:

Me, Dad and Mom - in that order

Mom and Dad always made sure I had a new Easter outfit. This was taken two years before Dad passed away.  And, that is an amazing love story for another time.

Easter 1967:

Shocking, even today! I am in big trouble, Houston!  Should my cousins get wind of this submission on the web, it's a boom, boom, crash-- I will be disowned. They are still my BFF's. I was an only child and I was never 'ownly,' thanks to them. We created our own holiday rituals!  And, this is what we came up with that year.  Argh, in retrospect.

So, each year, after attending multiple religious services over the Easter break, we would beg for a visit to the local 'Five and Ten' and have our parents buy our baskets, bunnies, plastic grass and chocolate. We were always spot on in our planning of this ritual. Ready! Set and go to assemble baskets in the most pristine fashion while watching Moses part the Red Sea. The Ten Commandments (1956 film)  By the by, its is on my schedule for this weekend -- between services.

Easter 1965:

My first performance, ever. This Mary was more contrary and did not have a lamb; she just didn't look happy. Mom? Dad? Thanks for that! Happy Easter to you too. They loved putting me on the spot. Now, I do it to myself.

Easter 1963 and or 1962:

The three of us before we knew inflatable bunnies existed.

With Abuela

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter, Happy Holidays and Happy Time of Renewal!

Going to make some more memories on this Buen Camino!