It started as a typical Easter weekend. There was a new outfit, frilly dress, white patent leather shoes, white gloves and flowered hat. The Sunday meal was planned.
Good Friday was myster
ious. For reasons not yet clear to us, we were to spend a few hours in church, in total silence.
There was fasting, no meat, but there were eggs…so many eggs.
By evening, we were on board with the celebration.
Enter PAAS…the century-old egg dye, small tablets activated by white vinegar to produce such lovely color. We were too young to know or care why, we just loved the ritual.
My grandmother presided. A devout Catholic, immigrant from Prague, she loved Easter. We felt her joy.
Sometime during the cleanup, she excused herself, and took to the living room sofa, claiming she felt a bit tired.
She never woke up. Cardiac arrest. Age 57.
Chaos ensued. Our mom…