Today is Easter. I have so many memories of this holiday from my childhood, and all of them seem to revolve around our trips to see our cousins in Carlsbad, where we would gather and spend the day at Mission San Luis Rey.
Elsa, Tili, Rafa, Tony, Sixto, we would all gather and romp around the landmark. Well, perhaps not Tony and Sixto, who were older and who eschewed behaving like children. Tony always chuckled as he saw us running to look for Easter eggs. Maybe it was a form of criticism, but I didn't want to miss the pleasures of this holiday. And Sixto was already courting his future wife, who he would soon marry, producing a niece who joined us during the last few ocassions when we would still gather at this locale.
I remember my parents joining in conversation with my aunt and uncle as they prepared the barbeque. In hindsight, it is amazing that they had these grills located about the landmark. Fires of any kind would pose an understandable threat to the locale, especially given the fact that this was a historical site. If I recall correctly, these grills have since been removed.
Surprisingly, it was not crowded at all, although they would hold Easter church services which I never attended. It seemed as if we had the place to ourselves, and it offered, as always, wonderful vistas. It was sedate and sunny, with brown hills surrounding it, and we would run around the buildings as well as venturing into the interior gardens. Rafa's silly laugh still rings in my ears.
There is a special sheen to these memories from decades past. I associate it with a special light and a feeling of warmth. Those were exciting times back in the seventies, and we always looked forward to them. It has been at least a decade since we have gathered on this holiday.
Tha past, as with any wave, submerges us in memories that come crashing down but that also, from time to time, lift us up as well.
Eternal Observer -- ORomero (c) 2011
Copyrights ORomero 2011
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