Let us sing...

of Easter Gladness!

It had been two years since I sat in the in-person pews at a church.  Maybe a little longer.  Maybe Christmas 2019?  But 2020 and 2021 Easter, nope.  2020 the church was online only.  2021 they were having some in-person services, but I wasn't ready.  But this year?  When I got the invitation to do our usual Easter service and brunch from my sister, I was ready.

This year, too, there was the added temptation of meeting her new gentleman friend. New in terms of "since the beginning of the pandemic".  They knew each other as acquaintances, but some time after he lost his wife in 2021, they started keeping company a bit more, as friends.   

The service had a huge emotional impact on me... the music alone!  Any of you familiar with Mozart's Allelujah?  I first was introduced to this piece via an old movie, 100 Men and a Girl, starring Deanna Durbin.  The movie was released in 1937, so those of you who don't know it, are forgiven as being young and not being married to an old black and white film buff.  Anyway, in the film, her character was trying to get Leopold Stokowski to conduct her father and his 100 unemployed musicians in an orchestra concert.  She sings the piece, interrupting his rehearsal, and as appropriate to an upbeat movie, brings down the house.

Anyway, it was the first I'd heard it, and in church today, a wonderful soloist sang it as the prelude.  Goosebumps, and pandemic pent-up emotions all hit at once.  Then we had the Pines of Rome for the processional (traditional at this church), and a wonderful service, as always at Easter.

When then-President Trump said we'd have packed churches on Easter, he didn't specify what year, did he?  I was in a section where most of us were masked.

After church we proceeded to brunch, also a sisterly tradition.  I was hoping that our classic breakfast/brunch restaurant survived the economic fallout, and in fact, they did.  Their menu has changed, slimmed down a bit, but my favorite spinach and mushroom omelet was still there

Oh, yes, I did say gentleman friend. He helps out with her yard, and squires her to various events.  I had seen his photo up on Facebook, but this was our first face to face meeting, and I have to say I am appropriately sisterly impressed.

He opens doors for ladies, including car doors.  He has a pleasant word for all.  He puts up with sisterly banter.  If he *needed* the approval of sisters (which of course, he doesn't), he has it.  

You can take from the fact that I'm posting it, that I was there behind the camera, but here are my sis and Jerry.

One thing that came to mind upon being asked was "how long have you been doing this?" (Meaning our Easter brunches.)  And we had to start counting... I think we started in 2002, so that makes it 20 years!  With a couple of skips for the pandemic.  

Anyway, that's it for my Easter Sunday... hope those of you celebrating Ramadan or Passover had similarly meaningful observances, and that others observing Easter have that resurrection feeling in your hearts!

Life is good.  Spark on!