"In Your Easter Bonnet" ~ Long Life Celebration

I imagine everyone has sung Irvin Berlin's song, "In Your Easter Bonnet" many times over the last few years.  Yesterday I had the treat of watching a live Easter Bonnet Parade at Newfield House,  my Uncle Charlie's Nursing home.  The Activity Room was decked out as a Garden in Spring....tulips and daffodils were in the containers near the brick wall.









Who is that hiding in the tulips?






  Claire, the Director of Activities brought in her collection of over fifty Easter hats. 










The hats on top of the bookcase are part of Claire's collection....those on the shelves are those designed by the "models".  We see Kiki's "Lavender Hill"; Carol's "Purple Paradise", Margaret's "Love in Bloom", Kay's "Lilac Time" (the hat didn't have a lilac on it!); and Leah's "Just Spring".





This past week as an activity, "the young lady residents" had the opportunity of designing their own hats.  Claire provided them with a straw hat and the damsels were instructed to create their very own hat using an array of various plastic flowers that they would wear in the fashion show.  They were also asked to name their hat as well as decide on a "price" that they would put on the hat.

The Parade was a hit....as each contestant walked the run-way, Claire did an off the cuff commentary on the "model".  I can't remember the commentaries exactly but they went something like this:

"Genevieve, a former school teacher for forty two years, is all decked out for Easter in her gorgeous "Daisy Daisy" hat.  As a girl of twenty, Genevieve saw her young beau go off to fight in the Burma Theatre...that's not a play you know...but real war.  When her young man came home in '46 they married and raised four children...all  who are now retired.  Gen is 93 years old but doesn't look a day over 22."

Terry, Gino and I were sitting with Uncle Charlie during the Easter Parade.  At times he would make snide remarks about one of the participants....other times, he would lavish wonderful praise.  For awhile he nodded off and when I woke him he asked, "Is that fool parade still going on?" in a loud voice.  It was obvious he wasn't as excited as we were to watch the show. 











But he did perk up when ninty-one year old Natalie joined us later for coffee and desserts.





Natalie is wearing her "Just Spring" bonnet.  Watching her smile and then listening to her escapades as a young woman during WW II was the highlight of my day.  Underneath the wrinkles and liver spots is still the 18 year old girl dancing the jitter-bug.  After spending time with her I could well understand Uncle Charlie's infatuation with her!  Though I don't think she gave him a nod that an affair was possible!!!  She was more interested in talking with us young' uns!





                            

In your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it,
You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.
I'll be all in clover, and when they look you over
I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.
On the Avenue, Fifth Avenue,
The photographers will snap us
And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet
And of the girl I'm taking to the Easter Parade.

In my Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it,
I'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.
You'll be all in clover, and when they look me over
You'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.
On the Avenue, Fifth Avenue,
The photographers will snap us
And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.
Oh, you may write a sonnet about my Easter bonnet
And of the girl you're taking to the Easter Parade.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~