Easter Memories Past and Present with Pictures

Larry, Bobby, Carl Williams, Gary
Larry, Bobby, Carl Williams, Gary
Gary, Carl Williams, Bobby, Martha, Vickie – Easter 1960 (I used to love making clothes for the girls.  Here they are in blue coats I made in 1960 – Linkhart house.)
Vickie, Myrtle, Martha - Easter 1965
Vickie, Myrtle, Martha – 1965, in their Easter clothes made by Myrtle.
Martha, Jeff, Myrtle, Vickie – 1966

Martha, Jeff, Myrtle, Vickie - 1966

(Here is that white dress I originally made for me and passed to Vickie when she got to wear hose instead of anklets.  I don’t remember that issue, but I remember the dress and there is little Jeff – so cute in his little plaid jacket and knee socks. I think this was at the Ferguson house.)

 Hope everyone really did have a memorable Easter 2009.  Yes, the memories are good.  I remember as a young girl always helping Mommy make Easter baskets for the kids.  We built them from scratch.  We would, of course, color eggs with the kids.  Every kid had their own egg or eggs they had colored with their own name on it.  Then Mommy would buy a few bags of jelly beans, yellow chicks, chocolate eggs, and some candy kisses, and usually a little bigger chocolate bunny for each basket.  Then after the kids went to bed we would put the eggs with the names into the baskets and add the goodies.  After all the baskets were put together we would hide them someplace in the house. 

Then, on Easter morning the kids went looking for their basket.  Then most of us kids got all dressed up and went to church.  There was always an Easter Egg hunt at church.  I remember most of these were related to the Fairborn Enterprise Baptist Church.  Someplace I do have pictures of Martha and Vickie and Mrs. Jean Bates, a Sunday School teacher and family friend, out in the field looking for eggs.  I must find those pictures and add them later. 

Then after the whole Church thing, we would go back home for one of those big Sunday dinners, pretty much as Carla Jo describes.  We usually had another egg hunt.  Daddy found great pleasure in hiding those eggs so those kids would have to work to find them.  That was a lot of fun. 

This year, 2009, I did a couple of Easter activities just because my Mother-in-law is with us.  Usually the Italians make special things at Easter.  Pat and I took Mrs. Sorge over to John and Nancy’s where there were about 20 people gathered to watch Johnny, Donny and Cheryl make the Easter Ham Pies.  They made 10 of them so every family took one home.  We talked and ate.  It was fun – but oh what a heart attack waiting to happen – eggs, cheese, and more cheese in those pies. 

Then I helped Mrs. Sorge make what they call Easter Spinach pies.  Basically, it is a delicious spinach mixture of cured olives, garlic and spinach in a pie dough piece folded over.  That really is good and not too bad for the heart.  Then we made these orange ricotta cheese pies which are more of a dessert.  Again, very good but oh so bad for the heart.

Then on Easter, we went to Pat’s cousin Dickie, the judge’s house for Easter Brunch which is more eggs, sausage, etc.  Then later in the day, we went to Barbara Fratto’s for Easter dinner which was more of the same with some added on ham, shells, meatballs, salads, etc.  I would venture to guess this would not be a good week to check cholesterol levels.

Well, I have so many more old memories to write too, but I must get going.  Easter is a little sad for me because I would love to be home when Kim and Martha and Shirley and whoever else gets together to color the eggs.

Jayden, Daphne, Madelyn 2009

Jayden, Daphne, Madelyn Easter 2009

Abbie Easter 2009

Abbie Easter 2009

TRADITIONS and LIFE CHANGES and Easter too!

As the years go by, it’s kind of funny the things you do all alone with the thoughts of those you love around you.  When I lived in Xenia I would do Christmas tree decorating w/Martha and Ricky and the “little ones”.  I’d spend time decorating cookies and the tree.  Now I place a string of lights around my big sofa picture and say “Merry Christmas”.   I still go to Shirley’s (Mom) for the actual holiday, but it is so different now. 

It’s Easter now and what do I do every year…boil eggs and color/decorate them.  Here I am 55 years old, I have no kids and no grandchildren, but I still decorate/color eggs (just a bakers dozen, but I still do it.)  I’ve always “named” my eggs w/Mom and Myrtle and me and Michael, but this year I was inspired to name each of them for Robert/Goldie Cox and their kids including Carl and Bobby (they are still here in our minds and hearts), so there were 2 eggs remaining.  One I just wrote “Happy Easter” and the other “Love and appreciation for Myrtle”.)  I thought she deserved a special egg because she’s had a “bit” of extra aggravation over the past year or two.   

Holidays and all the past Easter egg hunts we’ve all enjoyed as participants and observers and all of the nice clothes we’ve dressed up in for the occassions we’ve shared, Happy Easter and Happy Holidays to everyone!  Which brings me to a past Easter memory…I was 12 years old and Myrtle made  or remade a white dress that was fitted at the bodice and waist, had poofy sleeves, and had an embroidered trim (it was very pretty.)  Based upon age, Myrtle wanted me to wear “anklet socks”  with this outfit, however, my body looked like I was 18, I was mortified!  I actually went to Mom and told her I needed to be wearing “nylons” with my dress.  Mom actually gave in and I got to wear “nylons” with my Easter dress.  It’s hard to believe, but I got my way.  (I don’t think Myrtle was thrilled, but that’s the way some things just happen.)  My Mom over ruled my “other Mom, Myrtle.)  I love you both the same!

 

Love,

Sister, Aunt, Great Aunt, Vickie 

POSTSCRIPT:  THIS BLOG NEEDS TO CONTINUE FOR ONE YEAR, SO WE HIT MEMORIES FROM EACH SEASON OF OUR LIVES…THE TIME OF YEAR MAKES YOU REMEMBER DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT OUR LIVES…JUST A THOUGHT!

Gary and Vickie and a thought of Mom.

I must have family feuds on the mind, but…

As young teens back in the old days of the 60’s, one very important thing was being on the telephone before Mom and Dad got home from work.  One afternoon, Gary was on the phone and refused to get off and let me have a chance.  I was like a tazmanian devil and began to scratch him until I ripped his shirt almost off of him.  I don’t remember what we did w/the shirt to hide it, but I do know I got to use the phone.  Gary has always been so great and certainly didn’t deserve this treatment, but I guess it was just a part of “growing pains”.  Ahhhh growing up in a big family!

 

Another “funny” memory was in the summer time at the Ferguson house.  We were all riding bikes and had just finished swimming in the river or we were going to our swimming hole under the bridge .  Along the way,  we were all going along the edge of the road and Gary slipped off the birm and fell over.  I was close behind and proceeded to ride right across Gary’w legs and his bike.  It was funny at the time and he wasn’t hurt at all.  We all continued on.

 

When I left home before my 18th birtday, Gary was the one that I found a home with.  I still had 1/2 yr of school before I graduated and I needed to be close to town.  Gary had no problem w/me staying w/him.  We helped each other no matter what.

This makes me think of Mom.  She would send quarters, wrapped in foil w/Martha to give to me at school.  She always tried to help each of us when she could.

Some Old Pictures

Three Little Cox Brothers, Bobby, Larry, Gary Have no idea where this was, but it was so cute!

Three Little Cox Brothers, Bobby, Larry, Gary 

  

1958 - Bobby, Gary, Goldie, Larry, Tommy, Martha, Thelma, Myrtle, Vickie
1958 - Bobby, Gary, Goldie, Larry, Tommy, Martha, Thelma, Myrtle, Vickie

1958, I think this was in the house that burned.  I have on a dress that Mom had taken me to Dayton to get for the school year.  That also is when we got my coat with the pom-pom ties.  I was too neat and hung it in my closet.  Everything was burned on one side as they hung in the closet.  The closet was near the chimney that caught fire. 

In 1961, this looks like a bunch of little geniuses at work.  Not sure at what!  It must have been on a Sunday after church.  Vickie and Martha look all dressed up.

Bobby, Vickie, Martha, Gary at the Linkhart House
Bobby, Vickie, Martha, Gary at the Linkhart House 1961