Easter 2020, the cover version

I’ve never liked “covers”. LOML and I were enjoying a glass of wine this evening, Palm Sunday, and our discussion hovered around music covers. He’s always been open to an artist interpreting another’s music. He enjoys the variations. Maybe it’s the linguist in him, open to another take on things. However, for many years, I was reluctant to hear anything but the original version of just about anything. If The Beatles sang it, I didn’t want some twenty-something, thirty years later, rapping their way through Lovely Rita . It just didn’t seem right to me, somehow. And then?

Well, and then YCOM (youngest child of mine) gave us a recording of a bunch of “Punk Covers” on a USB key. I seriously didn’t get “punk” anything at the time and, most certainly, not “punk covers”. It took about a month before I would even give the recording a listen. When I finally listened, I was blown away by the takes on oldies, like Mr. Sandman. Come on. Seriously, someone took The Chordettes’ version and chunked it up. But I gave it a couple of listens and, well, I loved it. I listened to the rest of the recordings on the key and I was blown away by all of the re-imagined songs. Whoddathunkit. Me, listening to covers. Listening to punk covers, no less. So, what’s my point? Actually, I do have one. I’m a traditional kinda gal when it comes to celebrations. A birthday cake is absolutely necessary on a person’s birthday. And the birthday cake needs candles. And the celebrant has to listen to a bunch of people sing the birthday song, then make a wish and blow out the candles. Basically, that’s a birthday. Where the birthday happens, to me, is irrelevant. But don’t mess with the cake, the candles, the song and the wish-making.

Oh, my point. So, here we are. In the Christian world this week is a biggie. Many of you who aren’t strictly Christian also look forward to this weekend. Easter is one of those holidays which, in my mind, needs to be celebrated a certain way. Good Friday is the day I would usually fret about how many people are coming for dinner on Sunday. Saturday is the day I grab my list, check it twice and make sure I have everything on hand to make the Sunday dinner happen without a hitch. I also double check to see if the infamous Orange Cake (festooned with Cadbury Mini Eggs) will arrive and if the freshly baked buns are being baked and there’s enough bubbly in the fridge. Saturday is also the day I count the number of chocolate treats we have on hand to make sure everyone has enough to bust a button. Sunday, everyone shows up for a feast, some laughs, a treat hunt, some music and a whole lot of reminiscing. We aren’t a religious bunch, but Easter Sunday is the first day of the “newish” year when we get together. Easter Sunday is like opening day for the warm months, ahead.

This year, sadly, it’s going to be the “cover version of Easter”. We definitely won’t be hosting any of our friends and family. This year LOML and I will likely have a feast of sorts, perhaps not the 25-pound turkey and the 15-pound ham. We are more likely to have a turkey sandwich and a glass of cider and, who knows, a chocolate bunny to round out the meal. While both LOML and I feel certain our family and friends are likely to be COVID-19 free, we aren’t about to risk anyone’s health for the sake of a get together based on an ASSumption. We’re banking on a huge catch-up celebration once this pandemic has passed. As much as it hurts, deeply, to not be with our “littles” and our children and our friends and neighbours, it would hurt so much more if any one of those loved ones became ill because we were selfish.

So, Easter 2020 is the cover version. This Easter, distancing, isolation, safety, unselfishness and love for each other is the tune we all have to sing. The lyrics won’t change and the sentiment will be exactly right.

Flatten the curve, honey bunnies.

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca