Every year the routine never varied.  On Good Friday night we’d gather around the kitchen table to dye eggs. Mom would always gather the same 6 cups, an eclectic mix of mis-matchedness and put one Paas tablet into each one. Then came the vinegar followed by the boiling water. Back then I always thought that those tablets made the best colors; that they were way better than colors you could make with the liquid food coloring. What can I say? I was young.  I always asked why they only put 1 wire egg dipper in each box. (I wasn’t big on waiting my turn back then).

Mom always made an Easter egg that looked like my dad by gluing cotton to the egg to make it look like a balding head. She always took the clear crayon and wrote our name on an egg, then dyed it our favorite color. (Mine was always turquoise). Our Easter baskets were wicker, not plastic. These days there are Easter buckets in the stores. (Somehow that seems wrong). Our dachshund Max, loved hard boiled eggs. It was always a race on Easter morning to find the eggs hidden in the yard before he did.

Our kids were lucky to live  in the same city as my mom. As soon as they were able to participate, my mom was back  at her kitchen table, spreading out the newspapers again, and gathering those same 6 cups.  Over the years mom bought various Paas kits in attempt to change the look of the eggs. Our kids had sparkle eggs, tie-dye eggs, eggs with decals and even Shrinky Dink Easter eggs. Their favorites ones though were just the plain eggs that were left in the dye a long time, making the eggs a jewel tone.

When our kids were young I thought it was important to make the most beautiful eggs in the world. I watched Martha Stewart, trying to learn the way to make the most beautiful Easter eggs, then fussed at myself if mine didn’t turn out beautifully. I used rubber bands, dental floss, sponges, paintbrushes and even paper reinforcements to try to change the look of our eggs.

Although it took me a couple of years,  eventually I came to realize that it was the process, not the outcome, that was so important to the kids. I’m looking forward to being in our new place for next Easter; and now that my mom is gone, it seems that the annual gathering of the cups has fallen to me. I figure I better get in a lot of practice before there are little ones gathering around my table on Good Friday night. I wouldn’t want to drop the ball egg. Happy Easter everybody.

Now that I no longer see my older brother, my holiday meals are much less stressful so I really don’t need alcohol to get through. However I remember more than a few holiday meals over the years when having had a buzz would’ve been most welcome. (I never went there because my mom was always blitzed by the time dinner was served). This is going to be a very quiet Thanksgiving dinner by compare- how strange.

I think I’ll finish planning our Thanksgiving dinner today. Evelyn’s making the traditional dinner- turkey, dressing, etc. for everyone on Friday. I’m making a different Thanksgiving dinner for everyone on Thursday. Evelyn requested that I make Paul Prudhomme’s Cajun Stuffed Roast. It isn’t stuffed with a regular stuffing, bread or cornbread. (Instead it’s stuffed with onion, peppers, garlic and butter). It is sooo good. In fact, I may make two so that she can take one home with her. It’s not that any of us really need two big dinners, however we just like to do it and life is short so why not? It’s a cold and drizzly day here. I hope the weather is better where you are. Have the best Saturday that you can.

The Fighting Nun is the most popular punching puppet. She comes out swinging with finger-activated arms that move independently and a spring-action head that bobs and weaves. Her face is made of peach rubber and her habit is cloth. (I guess if you don’t want a Caucasian nun you’ll have to change her yourself with a Sharpie.) The boxing gloves are interchangeable with the ruler, which is included for those who’d like to reminisce about parochial school. Brett just told me that this puppet has been around forever. That may be. However, I hadn’t seen it and I wager a lot of the baby boomers haven’t seen it either. Also available are the Fighting Rabbi and the Fighting Devil. Purchase all three and you can stage your own Ultimate Smack-down.

Now I really like this next product. It’s kind of a BOGO. It’s both fun for the child and a heads-up for the parents who are clueless about their little angel appears to the rest of the world. Devil Duckie leers at you with his arched eyebrows. It’s hard to resist his tiny horns and cute chubby red body. Give it to that “special” child – the one who throws tantrums, torments the dog and runs wild through the stores.

I can’t believe I haven’t seen this next item before. The Inconspicuous Toupee is just fabulous. Your friend will never worry about their thinning hair again. They can simply strap this to their head and the bald spot is “inconspicuously” covered with a lovely swath of hair. Your follically challenged friend will thank you everyday for this considerate gift.

I was in a hot tub one night and a guy’s toupee actually floated off his head. (Needless to say it made for a really awkward moment.) If he had been wearing the Inconspicuous Toupee he could’ve just self-confidently undone it and thrown it aside. In case the toupee wearer has not gotten the hint by now just tell them to go for the gusto and the grins by wearing this. It’s probably better than what they’re wearing now.

That’s all the gems I’ve found so far. However, I’m always on the prowl for those great gift items that will make a lasting impression. More to come in Unforgettable gifts#2.