“Easter Times” remembered by Grandma!

One of the very first “Easter’s” that I remember being a part of – was back in the 1940’s. We had moved into the North Saint Louis area and lived very close to the Carter and Linton Avenue bus line- but if it were not  available – instead of just waiting – we would walk on down the hill to Grand Avenue and take the Grand Avenue Trolley Car to Olive Street. When we got off the “Street-Car” – we were in the “MID-TOWN” area and there were all kinds of good shopping.

At that very location “Grand Avenue and Olive” – we left the Street-Car and went right into the biggest “Woolworth’s 5&10 Store” – only a few steps – at that corner – and so many sweet and enticing “Smells ” – you just knew  that they had something good and you would want it! This was the place that my MOM was going to get all of the “EASTER” Surprises’  – for my two brothers and me. When we were traveling on the STREET-Car – my MOM was whispering in my ear what her plans were and that everything that she was getting –  would need to be a big  surprise for  little Denny and Tommy – I would get to see when I would help her put it all together  – but that I would have to act  very surprised, too!

Since I was the eldest and always right there to help – I was LUCKY – that I would get to know how and why – before things happened. And – of course,  I have always been able to act surprised – as I guess I was just so surprised just to be born – if you see my baby picture – you would say the same thing – “she looks  very surprised to be born??”

While we were in the “Woolworth s’ 5&10”- My Mom took us throughout the store – just so I would know where she would be doing her shopping and so that  I would not be in that area – when she was buying and having the “Easter” stuff wrapped. Everything that she was getting – baskets- candies- little yellow chicks – Chocolate bunnies and eggs – and lots of special items that she thought we would like – but all –  must be a surprise to my brothers. So when she had everything wrapped and bagged – my Mother came to the place she told me to be with my brothers – and then, we left the store.

We caught the Grand Avenue Street-car and traveled back to Carter Avenue and  we were in LUCK – to catch the Bus going up the hill. Once – home we played and when evening came had  our dinner and my brothers went to bed – and then the “FUN” started for me! My Mother started with boiling water to “HARD COOK” eggs – then she had some small dishes with different colors  of egg dyes – and  when we had all the eggs ready –  that would be  the time for me to do the coloring. There was some kind of a clear color pencil that my MOM told me  to write my brothers names on the eggs and draw some designs or lines around the eggs and put those aside till it was time for the coloring??

This is where I was really surprised – After I dipped the eggs in a dish of color – whatever I wrote on the egg began to appear – and since I had done this – my MOM said that all this was done by the “make believe”  –  “EASTER BUNNY” since it looked just like his writing We had so much “FUN” pretending to be the “EASTER BUNNY” – and so when this was all ready with the baskets and everything put in the surprise place – there was one more thing to do  – to make it  really look  just right??

Since I usually got up before anyone in the family I tip- toed through the house and  found my MOM  – she was in the kitchen putting on the coffee for her and DAD. Mom took me to the front door and opened it just enough – so that a  very nice “pre-tend” “BUNNY RABBIT” could come in and out  with our  baskets and everything as MOM had it all laid out – just as if the “Bunny” did it – “HIMSELF!”

So, I ran as fast as I could through the house to my brother’s bedroom and woke them up and had them get out of bed just as they were and come look – at the “Front Door” to see that  our front door was left open – just so  the “BUNNY” could bring all of  this good stuff  in – just for us! They just  could  hardly believe what they saw – each of  us had a basket full of good stuff – plus all of  the hard colored eggs that I made and they were so “HAPPY” – as we never had anything like this happen before. We all tried to figure out – “How did that  ole “BUNNY” get into our house with all  of this nice stuff  –  – just for us???”

 

 

 


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