Growing up in the south, there were rules and traditions that governed our lives. They gave structure and a feeling of safety and warmth. Easter was and still is the announcement of the coming of spring. Even as a child in the South, we knew that Easter was more than chocolate bunnies and new outfits.
Churches and Sunday schools taught about the real meaning of Easter. It’s about the death of Christ for the salvation of us all. I can remember Palm Sunday and getting the cross made of vegetation that we wore. I am not sure the children of today know what that means.
We also had the tradition of a big family dinner. Baked ham with the skin scored into blocks. Aromatic sticks of clove stuck into each area. Then the whole thing covered in brown sugar and mustard, cooked to a golden brown. Next there were the green beans cooked with bacon. Yes, by today’s standards they were cooked too long and too high in cholesterol. But these greasy boys were so good. Kids did not object to veggies then. Next was the great big bowl of potato salad. Boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, sweet pickles, mayo (not salad dressing), mustard, and celery mixed and seasoned oh so well that just a taste would make you shiver. Food in the south is love and any chance to show love and receive it tightens the family bond. Last was the dessert. My mom slaved over the stove and made one of my favorites. Coconut cake with seven minute white frosting. My taste buds went into overtime with every bite. A visit from or to friends finished off the day.
Another tradition was the after Easter sales. Off I would go with my mom to see what things we could get at half price.
I remember one Monday I got all dressed up in my Easter finery. A frilly pastel dress, shinny black patent leather shoes, and oh yes there was my brand new straw Easter bonnet. It was bedecked with flowers and bows. While getting off the bus I felt a great big breeze. Off went my new hat. As I turn to run after it my heart sank. My beautiful hat was crushed under the wheels of the bus.
Were there other great Easter memories? Yes, I am sure there are. But even now being the Diva of Fashion that I am, my heart still sinks at the thought of my beautiful Easter hat.
Archive for the ‘ history ’ Category
Today as I was thinking of what to post, I thought I would add in some antidotes about my travels to becoming a confident woman of style and fashion.
One true story happened on Christmas around the time I was six or seven. Living in the mountains of North Carolina, the weather is often so cold that Christmas was the time of year for a new coat. Well this time I got what my little heart perceived as the most beautiful coat in the whole world. It was chocolate brown with a striped brown and white scarf. The hood was lined in fur. As I left out for Sunday school, I admired myself in every window I passed. After church I went to put on my coat and lo and behold I had gained weight. Yes I knew that concept as I had been put on my first diet at five years old.
The walk home was so slow and hard as I cried all the way home. My poor mother could not get me to tell her what was wrong. I could not eat a bite. I just sat quietly with tears running down my face. Then there was a knock at our door. Standing there was one of my schoolmates dressed in an all too familiar coat that was at least two sizes too big for her. As our six year old brains processed what had happened, we both started to giggle. Now my tears were for joy of having MY coat back. I didn’t even care that she had one like me. My feet could hardly keep from doing the holy roller happy dance.
My daughter will tell you, left to my own devices, I will turn to shopping. So in the early hours this morning, I was drawn to my favorite place to feed my addiction, QVC. Oh my! What did I see? Pearls! Beautiful faux pearls, but they were oh so beautiful!
Pearls have long been admired by women of fashion. In fact, pearls are the only gems worn only by women. Real pearls are one of the costliest gems in the world. Cleopatra was said to have promised Marc Anthony the most expensive meal available. She placed before him a glass of wine and then proceeded to grind up a perfectly round, beautiful pearl and drank it!
I don’t claim to have the money or desire to own a wardrobe of real pearls. But I do love faux pearls in all their many colors and shapes. And have a fine collection of them.
The pearls that called out to me this morning were spectacular. These round multi-colored orbs jumped off the screen and touched my heart. I sat there thinking of all the many outfits that I could match them to. I had broken my self imposed budget to not shop for a month. But these pearls that had been designed to go into the gift bags at the inauguration could not be left to others.
These pearls were designed by Kenneth J. Lane, master of costume jewelry, whose creations have been worn by names like the Duchess of Windsor, Elizabeth Taylor, and Barbara Bush. Her three strand pearls worn at her husband’s inauguration were the talk of the town.