Tag Archives: Passover

April And Me

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April And Me

Today is April 1, April Fool’s Day. My most memorable one was back in 1980, the day I found out I was pregnant with my first child. So that’s what all the nausea was about. Not stomach flu after all. And I was blessed with it morning, noon and night, except for the time when I was admitted to hospital for a threatened miscarriage and hooked up to an IV. Miraculously the nausea disappeared for a few days. Of course the doctors and nurses attributed it to the fact that I was miscarrying.. But we showed them, didn’t we Kyle? All that nausea along with mandatory bed rest and nine months later I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Just tell me I can’t do something and then watch me do it.

In Mexico, April Fool’s Day happens on December 28 and is known as Dia De Los Santos Inocentes. This day dates back to biblical times when King Herod ordered the murder of innocent children. But as the years went by, it evolved into a day of mischief and pranks. The first trick my students played on me involved candy. They often brought me different types of Mexican candy to try. And they knew I didn’t like anything hot or spicy. That day, hidden at the center of that tasty hard candy was—you guessed it—-a mouth burning and eye watering hot chili flavored morsel.

April 5th is also my mom’s birthday. She would have been 114 or 113 this year, depending if you go by the date on her birth certificate or the date on mine. I found the discrepancy a few years ago when I had my birth certificate translated from English into Spanish. I also found other errors on my birth certificate too. I’d never really examined it that thoroughly before.

This year Easter will be celebrated on April 5th. The small Catholic church down the street has four different services listed that day. As I’m not Catholic, I’m completely ignorant when it comes the why or what of these services. I’ll most likely attend an afternoon or evening one, as I usually tend to sleep later in the morning.

And now back to April 1st, today. CFE thought it would be fun to play a joke on us today. We had a power outage. Annoying. We also had one in the middle of the night. So I think maybe I’ll upload this post before we get a third one today.

Happy Passover to those who celebrate.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. He Is Risen!

Sunday April 13, 2025

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Sunday April 13, 2025

Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, or Semana Santa as we call it here in Mexico. It actually overlaps this year with the Jewish Passover which began last night. Whatever you are celebrating, I hope it is a blessed time spent with family and friends.

Religion has been on my mind these days. I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction. Kristin Hannah has become one of my favorite authors. I’ve also read books by Kristin Harmel and Georgia Hunter. And I still have several more on my “to read” list. As an aspiring writer of fiction, reading the works of other authors is an important tool for me.

I belong to a book club back in Washington. Thanks to North Central Washington Libraries, I’ve been able to read books on Libby and Hoopla and keep up with the group. Actually, I more listen to them than read them. While I much prefer to hold a book in my hands, I find myself listening to audiobooks. I have more than enough screen time with my writing.

I first became interested in reading as a young child. It began with Golden Books and then moved on to Dick, Jane and Sally books I read at school. My Aunt Anne lived in Regina but she was the one who introduced me to Dr. Suess and The Cat In The Hat. She also encouraged me to read other books, such as Charlotte’s Web and Winnie The Pooh. And when I was older she recommended the series of Agatha Christie books. I became enthralled with Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. Decades later when my aunt was in a personal care home struggling with Alzheimer’s, I visited her regularly. Remarkably, our conversation often shifted to books.

Rosamunde Pilcher is another of my favorite authors. I first read The Shell Seekers when I was in Florida visiting my mother. I was recuperating from surgery and reading was a most welcome activity. In the years after that I went on to read all of Pilcher’s books.

When my children were young, I used to take them to programs at the libraries in Winnipeg where I encouraged them to experience the joys of reading. It is amazing to immerse yourself in the many different worlds of other people and to share in their adventures. And I am pleased that my daughter has carried on this tradition with my granddaughter.

What books are on your nightstand?

Happy Easter! Happy Passover!

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Three important celebrations were held on the evening of Friday, April 15th, 2022.

I attended a very moving service at Sage Hills Church in Wenatchee. It was in English and I was there live and in person. For the past several years I have always done a Good Friday service in English online as I’ve been in Mexico.

Back at home in Aguascalientes the occasion was the beginning of the Feria, the first one since 2019 because of Covid. This usually annual festivity takes place over a number of weeks and spans an area from Centro all the way to La Isla.

Friday also marked the first seder of Passover for those of the Jewish faith around the globe.

Whatever holiday you are celebrating this weekend, blessings to you for health and happiness.

Happy Passover!

Happy Easter!

Feliz Pascua!