Happy Easter to you.

It was a chilly morning in Kaaawa, and there’s still a cool wind blowing through the house despite the bright sun.

On the beach earlier this morning, we came across some brightly colored candy eggs, perhaps leftovers of some late night rite of Spring, or maybe just a few lost treasures from festivities at the school across the street.

We paused to consider that this is the first of the holidays since my mother’s death that would previously been marked by some special family meal here in Kaaawa or at my parents’ home in Kahala. I never knew my mother as a religious person, but she stubbornly enjoyed sitting down with us on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas for a special meal and, until the very end, a glass of wine. Or two.

My sister, Bonnie, drove her out to Kaaawa last Easter. We didn’t know it was to be her last Easter although, to be fair, we’ve worried for some time that each of these special days might be the last.

In any case, trying to keep things light, here a suggestion or two.

We highly recommend taking ten minutes for this segment of David Sedaris explaining the meaning of Easter from his own special vantage point. Warning: It’s hilarious!

It may also be the day to dig out that “Life of Brian” DVD and give it another viewing. If you aren’t lucky enough to have one stashed away, it appears that there’s a full version available on YouTube, although it comes complete with subtitles that you can ignore. One thing you’ve got to say–I doubt they could make this movie today, which makes it all the more important.

By the way, have you heard there’s a new pope?