Little do we know
what will remain with us in years to come,
or how some things will resurface unexpectedly,
bringing with them memories
of good times, shared joys, and common interests.
A basket handmade by my sister over twenty years ago
held Easter treasures from her to me this year.
She left it upstairs for me to find.
The little basket was a gift from her one Christmas
while she was living in New Hampshire.
After hearing that she made the basket,
I got her to teach me how to make baskets, too.
We soaked natural-colored flat and round reeds
in water to make them pliable.
Then using Rit Dye, we dyed them.
Over the years this basket's colors have faded,
but retain the muted shades of their original hues...
Dark pinks, mauves, and purples.
We spent hours, soaking, dying, and weaving
to create baskets made with love.
No patterns, just my sister's memories from
her basket-making class.
Together we laughed, tested dye colors,
pulled apart weaves to redo, and helped
one another with the difficult twisting and
holding reeds to get the baskets just right.
None of the ones I made are still with me;
all became gifts to friends.
This little basket from my sister has
lived all over my house,
moving from spot to spot,
last seen, empty, sitting alone.
Then unexpectedly, it became this year's
Easter Basket,
holding chocolates and little treasures,
made with love,
and filled with memories of our times
together years ago.
Sisters by chance, friends by choice.
❦
~~~~~~~~~~
