EASTER THOUGHTS
As a child, I grew up going to Sunday School and celebrating Easter in church. Spring usually meant a new dress, but always a new spring coat. Spring coats then were pastel colors, pale blue, yellow, or pink. Made of lightweight wool, you wore it over a pretty dress along with a fancy hat to church on Palm Sunday and Easter. Of course, our parents also gave us Easter baskets. Fake straw ones with jellybeans, Peeps chicks, and little foil wrapped chocolate eggs nestled in the grass. If you were fortunate, a good-sized cream-filled Cadbury’s egg was a bonus.
Today, I welcome the coming of Easter as a sign of spring—rebirth and renewal—with a lifting of the spirits if the winter has been long and cold. In Florida, we have some version of spring all year, but there is still something wondrous about warmer temperatures, more late light, and the bursting forth of blossoms.
RECENT VIEWING
FROTHY CONFECTION
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (Amazon Prime)
Based on the novel, Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris, by Paul Gallico and published in 1958, the latest movie version is a delight. It’s fun and full of fashion without being too silly or overdone. There are moments of poignancy midst Ada Harris’s dreams of a different life.
Lesley Manville plays cleaning woman Ada Harris, a hardworking woman who dreams of owning a beautiful gown (preferably one by Dior) and whose husband never returned from the Second World War. Nor was he declared dead, and so she is ever hopeful. Ada saves her coins and when she receives an unexpected windfall, she trots herself to Paris and brazenly bursts into Christian Dior’s atelier. She’s a memorable character, full of spunk, and perhaps her dream will come true. In the 1992 film, Angela Lansbury was Ada Harris.
SPYCRAFT
A Spy among Friends (MGM+)
The Chief Penguin and I read several very positive reviews of A Spy among Friends about notorious double agent Kim Philby. Hence, we sprang for the 7-day free trial of MGM+ through Amazon Prime to watch the series. It’s six parts and we are halfway in. Based on a nonfiction work by Ben Macintyre, it unwinds slowly going back and forth in time. Philby is seen primarily through the eyes of friend and fellow spy, Nick Elliott, who is being interrogated about his knowledge of Philby’s activities over their 23-year friendship. Guy Pearce is Philby and Damian Lewis is superb in the role of Elliott. Recommended!
Note: Flower photos and header photo from JWFarrington.
Oh my gosh, love that photo! Easters past. And wasn’t Mrs Harris delightful. Will check out the Spy series.
Every Easter my mother begged us to get hats but we absolutely refused! To thus day I refuse unless it’s too cold out.
I loved Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. Leslie Manville was terrific. She has had a busy year.
Jean, I too was reflecting this past Sunday on how our lives are so different on Easter than when we were growing up. We always attended church, as we did weekly, and had a dinner shared at most likely our home or a relatives.
As I aged my faith changed and my church attendance flagged versus my engaging in meditation and involvement in community volunteering. All too many wars have been instigated by conflagrations of faiths. We have become a global community in economics, travel, entertainment, investment, etc., but still remain all too secular in the pronouncements of faith. Many believers can only include others in a attempt to convert to the right, winning celebration of their God, rather than being open minded and open armed to the inclusion of others.
My daughter celebrated early years with the Easter Bunny and a special dinner out somewhere. Many times that dinner was provided by your mother. She was a special glue who bound our family through these invitations. I have always thoroughly enjoyed my times visiting with my cousins at a table crowded with food, love and great conversations. With divorce and the adult lives of our kids and grandkids, relocations to retirement these gatherings have waned, but not the warmth of memory.
Looking forward to conversations, shared food and experience with you and Greg in our future.
Bill