Making Memories - One Easter Egg at Time

The Easter Bunny was gearing up for his trek around town, and I was getting kinda worried if he would actually make it – given the weather.

The week before, we woke with freezing temperatures, frost clinging to the roofs of our homes. While we scraped ice from the windows of our cars in the early mornings, the robins and the tulips didn’t know whether to don scarves or just give up and curl back down to hibernate for another few weeks. I know parts of Canada – and the world, no less – still have snow. So technically, we shouldn’t complain!

It’s been the talk of the town, in these parts. The wacky weather. My worry was that the Easter Bunny was going to give in to this weather-induced stress disorder, and just give up this year.

But then we had a glimmer of hope! The day before Easter, the sun was shining, birds were chirping, and everyone, including their dog/cat/hamster were out mowing their lawns, racing to the garden shop, and throwing on shorts in hope of a tan. Now THIS is Easter!

The night before, a few of the men hesitantly asked if…um…if....um…if the Easter Bunny might, perhaps, be paying a visit. Two birthdays had just rolled by, and they were beginning to wonder if their time was up – if the Easter Bunny passing by our house is simply part of growing up. I shrugged, shook my head in dismay, and mumbled it’s supposed to rain, so (hee, hee, hee), I don’t think the Easter Bunny will be by this year. Two pairs of eyes questioningly searched mine, hoping I was teasing. I guess I am a terrific actress as two heads hung in disappointment.

But Easter morning arrived, and the weather man, as predicted, was right. Clouds with rain was in the forecast, and even though we made the most of the day before, the overcast morning had the robins still nestled in their nest – not a chirp was to be had. Bummer! THIS isn’t Easter!

But as my three men emerged from bed, two of them in their teens, and one of them nearing mid-life, excitement brewed. Actually, I was more excited than they, as they all looked up at me from their rumpled beds, all swollen-eyed and drowsy. My throaty, opera-like rendition of “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” got them out of bed – and not a pillow was thrown at me in exasperation.

With a smirk, they all rolled out of bed, anxious to see what the hubbub was about. Well, they kinda already knew. Hustling around, gathering their eggs, their baskets in tow, I remembered one thing.

No one – not even Mother Nature – can rain on our parade. Who cares about the weather. It’s the memories that are created not just every holiday, but every day. No matter the weather, the season or the age.

And the Easter Bunny will keep visiting, rain or shine, no matter how old they get.

Happy Easter!

Gene Autry recorded "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" around 1950. To listen to the actual version of the song, not the opera-like version I sang to my kids, copy this link to your browser....it's a true classic!

http://heavens-gates.com/fifties/petercottontail.html