Steven Brady Wilson

Today I went to the funeral of my cousin Steven.  He died at the age of 31.  I can't remember the last time I saw him?  I only remember him when he was very young playing the piano at Grandpa's house.

Steven was a child prodigy.  He was born with remarkable music skills.  He must have been around 8 when I heard him play.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing!  His fingers were running up and down the keyboard like he was a concert pianist.

The Wilson family was very close when Grandpa and Grandma were alive.  We spent a lot of time together hanging out at the cabin, The Homestead, or Grandma and Grandpa's house.  That's where the cousin relationships were built - could we ever mess up a basement!  Grandpa let us ride his mini bike around the backyard.  He had a cash register in the basement, where many "play" transactions were made.  There were also forts made under the pool table and ping pong gun fights galore!

Because I was so grown up (cough, cough) I didn't hang out with my Uncle Harvey's kids.  I was a teenager with an attitude.  I'm sure I made fun of the little buggers!

I wish I could turn back the clock and sit and listen to Steven play the piano again.  I would pay much more attention to my younger cousins.  They probably thought I was mean.  Maybe they didn't care I didn't give attention their way?  I hope so.

So because my heart is filled with love for my cousins, aunts and uncles today, I pledge to pay more attention to my extended family.  Love you guys!

Rest in peace, Steven
Karen

Happy Easter!

I googled The origins or Easter and found some interesting Easter facts:

Easter also has a non religous side. During the second century, Easter was originally a pagan festival. The ancient saxons celebrated this holiday for their Goddess of Offspring and Springtime, Eastre. When the christians noticed many tribes were worshipping Eastre, they attempted to change their faith to christianity. The christians slowly, but surely, spread their faith but allowed the tribes to celebrate pagan feasts, Eastre occured at the same time as Christ's Resurrection. Over time, Eastre was converted to a christian celebration and named Easter.

Spring was a very important time for ancient cultures, and it has been honoured and celebrated throughout many cultures, often with the central idea of a deity dying and being reborn. Throughout Asia and Europe festivals have been held for many thousands of years, with myths of regeneration and magical ceremonies in order to herald abundant summer crops. Literary evidence shows these celebrations have existed as long as 15,000 years ago in Neolithic times.

I apologize for stating my sources.  If you do a google search, I'm sure you'll find the same article.  No matter what your beliefs are, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

Karen