Easter early 1960's

A very stylish bow tie on that kid, for the early 1960's, Yes that was me in our backyard in about 1962. It was most likely March and I was dressed up for Church. Looking at the picture the house would be to his left, your right. The big Maple Tree that has been gone since somewhere around 1985 is out of the picture also to the right. Under that tree there was never any grass, just dusty light brown dirt. We would build tree forts where the tree split into about six separate massive trees. It was either a handful of swamp maples growing tightly together or someone tried to chop it down and swamp maples are tenacious and don't die easily. As of 2016 there is a tree, must be a relative of the monster we had that is further back on the property, on the property line between what used to be Uncle Ken's and Aunt Elsie's house, near the garage. It grew through the fence that was there and I tried to chop it down several times only to see it grow back stronger and more determined. It was south of my garden then and it would always shade it. After a few years I gave up and trimmed it up as high as I could get it. I remember that tree growing along the fence line back in the 1970's. What a monster.
     Easter back in the 1960's always involved Church. I never really liked church and quit going to it as soon as I could. When the girls were young I always threatened to take them to church and never did. I'm sorry I never did. Growing up too many people used and still do use religion for the wrong reasons.
     It started with Jim and Tammy Faye Baker scamming senior citizens out of their life saving in the name of God so they could live lavish lifestyles and I think they were finally brought down when they tried to build an amusement park for all their followers. Yes they'd pay to get in.
     Then there were the Catholic Priests and the alter boys a mess that dragged on for more than twenty years and finally the religious wars of the early twenty-first century. They seem like there never going to end.
     On Easter Sunday,
my Mom would get us dressed up in our new clothes and depending on what year it was Mr. Fisher and his daughter, Trudy would pick us up or my mom would drive us over.
     We went to the Dutch Reformed Church. My Mom was a member of the Unity Church in New Mexico, Her mom was a Baptist I think and my Dad's family is unknown. Though my great grandmother Katherina Wind was Catholic. The Wind side of the family always seemed to get involved with the Protestants, but remained Catholics.
    One quick side story about Katherina Wind, my great grandmother. She was involved with a man in Germany and I think it was out of wedlock and had a baby that died soon after its birth. Not long after she moved to America.  I think on the boat  she met my great grandfather, Leonhard. Katherina is also named after her great grandmother Katherina Wind who fooled around or something else out of wedlock and got pregnant with her only son in 1822. Germany was in the midst of a political revolution the commoner would lose. No father's name is on the birth certificate. The child has his mother's last name, Wind.
   
 Easter, again.We would go to the usual Sunday school. Afterwards we had to go to church and in addition to being bored to death, I had to smell the overpowering smell of the flowers that filled the Church. To this day I can't stand those flowers. I don't remember their names, but if you go to Church on Easter Sunday they'll be there.
     On Palm Sunday, the Sunday before We received Palm leaves. It was nice and yes it was related to Jesus entering Jerusalem, but it never meant too much to me. I would spent some time shredding the leave before throwing it out.
     Then there was Easter Dinner. In the Sixties, it would be held at our house on Klein. It was usually Ham, mashed potatoes (from potatoes boiled then mashed up using a hand mixer, adding whole milk and butter. Not saying it was better than instant, just that was how it was done.) The Spread was quite impressive and it would be always be served on china. That fancy stuff that you might see in your grandmother's china cabinet. It was actually used. Someone in the family, maybe Carol Hood's family got the China set from the Hardens.
 The Picture on the right is the early 60's. Wally hadn't moved to Maine yet, I think and Eric is the baby on mom's left closest to Karl and I.
     The Tapestry on the wall was bought from Germany by Uncle Tonny and later bought upstate and put over the fireplace there. One day some townies found the place and broke in and among other things stole it. I always liked it. The Clock over Wally's head also came from Germany and was given to my Mom by Uncle Tonny. I have it in my attic. Someone took the works out of it one day and tried to 'update' it and failed. I know the works are around here somewhere.
       Easter dinner always included my Aunt Emilie, Uncle Hon, my Dad, Mom and the four of us. I really don't remember anyone else joining us until the 70's.