The Lenten Season Begins

Dear Diary,

Today is Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent begins.  This is my small collection of eggs from around the world.  Some were gifts and some I acquired in my travels.  The large white one is a goose egg and there are some decorated hen eggs from Prague.  I've always thought the egg the perfect Easter symbol.

Usually, people give up something for Lent.  It was often chocolate for me which, I assure you, was a great sacrifice on my part.  But this year I am doing something different.  Each day, beginning today, I will give up a different thing.  I will put my "sacrifice" into a large bag and after Easter I will bring all the objects to a charity for donation.  Today it was a book but over the next few weeks it might be a pair of shoes or a pocketbook; an article of clothing or a household object.  Each day I will release something I have been holding onto.

One of my favorite travel memories was the Easter I spent in Russia.  That year the Orthodox and Western Easter coincided.  I watched the midnight candle light procession around the cathedral in St Petersburg, it was one of the most beautiful events I've ever witnessed.  The two green glass eggs in my photograph I got on that trip.