Easter 1974

I don't remember the planning that went into that trip.  I don't remember the 800 miles from Pitcairn, NY, to Kingsport.  I don't remember if we brought Grandma & Grandpa or if they came another way.

My first memory of that trip is pulling into the camp driveway after dark.  Someone was in front of us to show us the way.  Was it the farmhouse uncle or was it the great-uncle who was the director of the ministry?  We were led into an apartment and shown around.  The little kitchenette had a small fridge.  I remember the fridge being opened to show us the milk.  There was cereal also.  Had the farmhouse aunt and uncle provided that for us?  Had the ministry director great-uncle bought milk & cereal for the little great-nieces in case they needed a bed time snack?

During daylight hours, I remember following the farmhouse aunt up the stairs to where the youngest cousin slept.  She was wide awake & ready to join the festivities.  As the farmhouse aunt took her out of the crib, I remember thinking she was the cutest thing I had ever seen.  All I wanted to do was hold & squeeze her.

Easter Sunday arrived.  We cousins were gathered in the kitchen.  There was much excitement among us younger cousins.  You see the farmhouse aunt had all the adults outside hiding the Easter eggs.  The older cousins were beginning their teenage years so I'm sure an Easter egg hunt was not the most exciting thing.  The third oldest cousin said something which made us all laugh.

We finally were released from the kitchen.  I have heard the cousins were paired up for the egg hunt...oldest with youngest, next to oldest with next to youngest, etc...I don't remember.  I do remember being near the sidewalk at the farmhouse.  I looked up at the front porch and saw all the aunts enjoying visiting with each other.  I remember hearing them laugh and being amazed that they all laughed alike.  Then the farmhouse aunt said something.  She had the most beautiful sounding voice.  She still had some of that normal sounding (NY state) voice but every once in a while, the Southern drawl would show up.  I couldn't hunt eggs...I was mesmerized.  A thought popped into my head, "if I ever have to live with anyone besides my mommy, I'd like it to be the farmhouse aunt."  Then I felt funny - why would I live with anyone besides my mommy.  I would live with my mommy for a long time.

I don't remember anymore of that Easter.  We went back to Pitcairn, NY, with hearts full of wonderful farmhouse memories.