Baskets at Easter Time

    Before the time that this little boy knew anything about the real Easter story of tombs and resurrection, the big thing was an Easter basket, filled with colored eggs and perhaps some goodies. 

   Today this basket sits on a piece of furniture in a house that knew not this child. It is not filled with bright colors and chocolate, but holds a picture of a teenager in a uniform, and an old belt. My Mom and Dad (in the picture to the left) would be happy it is still used and on display.

   But the basket brings back memories of Easter on Tunnel Boulevard, where, even in the Great Depression and the beginnings of WWII, surprises and laughter filled the house and yard.

   Notice the basket in the pictures below..

   This child is looking for hidden eggs in a flower garden, If my memory serves me well, this small colorful garden sat next to a fence between 207 and 209 where the Mansfield family lived. Mr. Mansfield must have passed away, because the family last name changed to Perkins later. 

   This boy holds the same basket with eggs as he stands in the snow on a cold Easter Sunday. There is a story here, a story with all the elements of a regular Easter, but with the hazardous condition that the eggs cannot be hidden in the snow. Two reason emerge for this hazard:

      1. The snow is deep and the eggs once released from the basket sink to the bottom and out of sight.

      2. The footsteps of the hiding person lead to the spot every time.

   Where is all the suspense and fun in that?

   So we come to a logical conclusion, hide the eggs in the house.

   The eggs are counted, then hidden inside 207, then found with happiness.

   But there is one missing. No one can remember where the hiding place was. One egg is lost in the house. 

   A couple of weeks later a strange pungent odor is noticed. It smells of sulphur. Noses lead to a small table with a closed lid.

   There is the missing egg in all its glorious smell.

   That Easter was the last one where eggs were hidden in the house.

   That Easter basket has seen a lot of years. It has resided in several houses in several states. It has been used for a lot of different things and held by several tiny hands. 

   Today it holds memories of the past.

   It is also empty, just like the Easter tomb, but if you listen closely you can hear the Hope of the ages.

   CHRIST IS RISEN

   HE IS RISEN INDEED

   Amen and Amen