by Kathy Vandermark

Created on: October 12, 2008

I didn't grow up with a heavy religious background, so the true meaning of Easter wasn't about the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was about Easter baskets, Easter egg hunts, and the birth of Springtime. I knew it had something to do with Jesus.

I was born on Easter morning so naturally I would love Springtime, which meant the arriving of my birthday. As I got older, and the calendar took its route, I was to find Easter on my birthday once again. I was told I could have some children over to celebrate, but each schoolmate I asked, had Easter plans. It was a depressing birthday for me.

One year, we thought the Easter bunny had passed us by. We got up and searched the house, but no basket. We were worried and teary-eyed. We found them a few minutes later on the front porch. The Easter bunny didn't meet his deadline, and had to find a way to get the baskets delivered without being seen. My own children would experience a year like this years later.

The tradition of Easter eggs is a fabulous tradition, as the house fills up with the smell of vinegar, to get the eggs colored. The beautiful colored eggs will take their toll from there. They will go into baskets, from baskets to their hiding places, and with luck, will be found, rather than to lay in hiding to rot. Deviled eggs will become part of the Easter feast. As I grew older, I became the hider instead of the hunter. It was at that time, I realized what a truly fun sport this is. The children love it. When it is rainy or muddy out, the event can be moved indoors. The children don't care as long as they get to find the eggs. I can't recall the times that we have found a plastic egg hidden away in our house, overlooked by anxious hunters. We are glad we used plastic eggs.

The best egg hunt I can recall is the year my entire extended family went to the city park for a picnic. We have a very large family and I love each one of them dearly. We had eggs galore.

We lived within a block of our city coliseum, where the annual Easter pageant took place. Shortly before Easter, our street would line with cars as people in Biblical costumes would walk to practice. To me, it was very interesting, yet very religious. I didn't understand the religious aspect that was added to Easter. I finally went to the pageant one year. I remember how extravagant the play was, but still didn't understand the story.

Across the street from us, was a very large house, out of place for the neighborhood we were in. It had large columns and a balcony

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