My Favorite Easter Memory

During Spring Break my freshman year of high school, my dad and I went to Mississippi to visit my great Aunt Sandy. Aunt Sandy lived way out in the sticks, and going to her house was always fun for me because I had always lived in the city. I looked forward to visiting her because it seemed like there were always people around and other kids for me to play with. Spring Break was of course over Easter, which is why I happened to remember this particular incident today. It is my favorite Easter memory, however twisted that may be.



Aunt Sandy lived in what I would call a shack. It was what my dad calls a shotgun house: if you shot through the front door, the shot would go straight out the back door. Id never heard of such a thing; Im convinced it is a *southern thing*. I think there were about ten people staying in her little house for the week. Three of Aunt Sandys kids had come to visit: Mitch, along with his two daughters, Connie, with her two sons, and Merlene, a daughter she had given up for adoption and had recently been reunited with, as well as Merlenes daughter, Candy. Gary, another of Aunt Sandys kids lived across the road. All of us kids slept in one room, camped out on the bunk beds and the floor. The adults got the living room. It was a whole lot of fun with everyone being together.



Easter morning I woke up early. I could hear the adults all talking at the dining room table, and being the curious teenager that I was, I listened in. At the dining room table was Aunt Sandy, her four kids (Gary, Merlene, Connie, and Mitch) and my dad. The next thing I hear coming from Garys mouth is, I want to tell you all something. Im in love with my sister (Merlene).



Ooookay. Yeah. I wish you could have heard everyones reaction. Ill sure never forget it. There was a whole lot of swearing and a whole lot of drinking to follow (yes, on Easter morning). I guess its not completely as bad as it sounds. The first time Gary had met Merlene was, in fact, earlier that week, so its not like they grew up together. And, they did have different dads. But still. Yuck.



Gary and Merlene actually ended up getting married in Gatlinburg a year or so later. They were together until Gary died of a cocaine overdose in 2002. Merlene went on and married a preacher and lives in Tupelo now, I think. Yeah, I get the irony.



I tell this story much better in person. Its a great story to tell at a bar; somehow its even funnier when alcohol is involved. I dont remember what we did the rest of that Easter, but I will never forget that morning. It is my favorite Easter memory.