And here I thought I was the only one who became giddy with delight every time Regular Car Reviews came out with a new episode =-). It's also one of my favorite Youtube channels.
Their car videos roped me in, but their commentary videos (like the Roman Report) are what keep me hooked. Plus they’re about my age, were in marching band in high school, and are also from the Rust Belt, so we’re nostalgic for the same things.
As a fairly new resident of New England I was struck by how many places were open with business as usual compared to Texas where we moved from. There virtually every place is closed and if you go out you will see lots of people dressed up in their Easter finery. And all the churches have to hire security to direct traffic and handle parking! Of course, many of those people are only Easter/Christmas attenders. Truthfully, I’ve been struck by how a-religious this area is in general, though I probably shouldn’t be as one of the reasons we left Texas was to escape overt (toxic?) religiosity and I made sure that wasn’t a factor in our new town!
It's a bit ironic that New England held on to its Puritanical roots for so long but is today more secular, certainly compared to places like Texas. Although we did just get a new Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A near here, so maybe that's starting to change?
So much similarity to my experience… growing up, we had Easter at my house. All the relatives came into our small house and we had a blast with our cousins. Before Sunday, there was Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Saturday night (about 4-5 hours total on those hard wooden pews). Late Saturday nights prepping food, I can still smell the garlic and parsley marinade for the lamb.
Now? 8 of us had dinner at my brothers’ - including my twin, my mom, aunt, spouses, and kids. We still do secular stuff like baskets but it lacks the music, cooking, and playing games inside and outside. Even though I haven’t been to a mass for at least 3 decades, Easter meant renewal and the end of long winters. The smell of incense and lillies, Italian pastries and Xavier Cugat in the background.
Today I took a 3 hour nap and read 3/4 of a book. Too normal…maybe new traditions can start next year, I’ll just have to figure out what that is… thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for sharing your memories! Yes, that smell of incense and the Holy Week masses are strongly imprinted in my brain too. Here's to figuring out new traditions!
And here I thought I was the only one who became giddy with delight every time Regular Car Reviews came out with a new episode =-). It's also one of my favorite Youtube channels.
Their car videos roped me in, but their commentary videos (like the Roman Report) are what keep me hooked. Plus they’re about my age, were in marching band in high school, and are also from the Rust Belt, so we’re nostalgic for the same things.
As a fairly new resident of New England I was struck by how many places were open with business as usual compared to Texas where we moved from. There virtually every place is closed and if you go out you will see lots of people dressed up in their Easter finery. And all the churches have to hire security to direct traffic and handle parking! Of course, many of those people are only Easter/Christmas attenders. Truthfully, I’ve been struck by how a-religious this area is in general, though I probably shouldn’t be as one of the reasons we left Texas was to escape overt (toxic?) religiosity and I made sure that wasn’t a factor in our new town!
It's a bit ironic that New England held on to its Puritanical roots for so long but is today more secular, certainly compared to places like Texas. Although we did just get a new Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A near here, so maybe that's starting to change?
So much similarity to my experience… growing up, we had Easter at my house. All the relatives came into our small house and we had a blast with our cousins. Before Sunday, there was Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Saturday night (about 4-5 hours total on those hard wooden pews). Late Saturday nights prepping food, I can still smell the garlic and parsley marinade for the lamb.
Now? 8 of us had dinner at my brothers’ - including my twin, my mom, aunt, spouses, and kids. We still do secular stuff like baskets but it lacks the music, cooking, and playing games inside and outside. Even though I haven’t been to a mass for at least 3 decades, Easter meant renewal and the end of long winters. The smell of incense and lillies, Italian pastries and Xavier Cugat in the background.
Today I took a 3 hour nap and read 3/4 of a book. Too normal…maybe new traditions can start next year, I’ll just have to figure out what that is… thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for sharing your memories! Yes, that smell of incense and the Holy Week masses are strongly imprinted in my brain too. Here's to figuring out new traditions!