Monday, 12 April 2004
Trick or Treat - Gimme Peeps!
This weekend was Easter weekend, with today being a holiday in France. And if the French deem it necessary to require time off after a day of feasting, who am I to argue?
My friend, Ivan, again invited me to his mother's place for Easter dinner. This is the fourth year in a row that I've taken part of this family meal. Easter in France is akin to Thanksgiving in the U.S. in the pantheon of family gatherings, so to say that I'm grateful to be included is the least of it.
This is the first year that I arrived with "respectably short" hair. The change gave us a chance to laugh at the first time that I dropped by for dinner, three years ago.
Picture this: I arrive at Ivan's mom's place for Sunday dinner. He greets me at the door, and introduces me to his mother. Who proceeds to take a short, startled breath.
Ah, well, I figure. A typically conservative French reaction to the tall American, with his long hair and a beard, stepping through her front door. I had taken the time to be presentable - carefully trimming my beard and dressing nicely - but I guess there are some things that don't change.
Then it hits me about the same time that Ivan started laughing - just why it's a big deal, on this day in particular.
"It's Easter Sunday," he tells his mother as she gathers her composure. "So I invited Jesus!"