Happy and Blessed Easter, Nebraska!
I wish all a blessed Easter. While I am Muslim and therefore don’t have the same beliefs in Easter, I was fondly reminded of the Easters of my youth by a fellow Muslim, a Christian and God on Good Friday.
My beloved stepfather was born into a Catholic family. We would drive down Hines Drive in Michigan from our house in Canton to my grandmother’s house in Dearborn. It seemed to rain every single Easter like it did here in Fremont on Good Friday. I would be car sick as my parents smoked in the enclosed car while playing Motown music on high with the heat blasting.
It was a relief to step out into the cold rain and breathe the fresh air. I put any worms found on the pavement in the grass on my way inside just as I did today. Inside I greeted my houseful of relatives who all smoked with the heat on 80 degrees. The stove had a pot of sauerkraut and kielbasa that had been simmering all day. The oven had stuffed cabbage, city chicken or other Polish delights.
After greeting all, I made a beeline for the refrigerator for a glass of coveted Faygo pop. Red Pop was a staple although my favorite is Rock n Rye. Today a brother, fellow Muslim gave me a Dreamin which I didn’t remember but was a taste of home nonetheless. For lunch I was served a tuna macaroni and cheese casserole with Pik Nik shoestring potatoes on top by a wonderful Christian woman who exchanged “Happy Good Friday” greetings with me. If I was fortunate, grandma would have some Pik Niks by the stove with her stash of Faygo for us grandchildren.
When the smells and talk of Detroit sports became overwhelming, I would take my glass of Faygo and a handful of Pik Niks onto the covered porch. I would shiver in the cold breeze while watching the rain fall and thanking God for the blessings of the season.
Today I stand on the open patio in the rain with a belly full of wonderful food and Faygo smoking, hopefully for one of the last times, while listening to Motown and remembering the Easters of my childhood.
I thank God for the diverse community that surrounds me. I hope that everyone of all faiths and no faith have as blessed of an Easter as my Good Friday was because
Every life matters, especially yours.
God bless Nebraska and especially her people.
