by Ronni Dee

Created on: March 03, 2009

As a child growing up, all I knew about Easter was that we went to egg hunts, possibly won prizes for special eggs, got a lot of candy in a bright basket, and had a huge dinner. Of course, being a young kid, the egg hunts were the best part.

We went to several egg hunts each year. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Easter weekend was filled with fun, and candy. I will never forget one Easter Egg Hunt when I was just nine years old.

This particular hunt was on Easter Day that year, 1988 to be exact. The traditionally egg hunt at the Fish and Game was about to get under way. We went early, of course, so my mom could help put out eggs and my dad could be with the guys and have a few drinks.

I sat on a bench at the front of the field. I watched carefully where the eggs were being put. I had a feeling that it was my year, but I never expected what would come.

All the way at the end of the field was a tree line, some bushes, and a small creek. I saw one of the guys I recognized as an employee of the Fish and Game down near the left end, on the bank, putting an egg in a tree.

I was lucky to be in the first age group of kids to be released for their six eggs, and I knew where I was bolting to. I ran as fast as I could to that tree, because I just knew that egg had to be special. Why would he put it in a tree if it was not?

When I got to the tree, I realized that it was more of a bush, a bush with big thorns. Oh, how I did not care. Then I noticed that the egg wasn't even colored, it was plain white. For a brief moment, I thought that I had made a huge mistake.

I stuck my little hand between two large thorns and grabbed that egg. I looked at my hand, saw a few scratches and thought to myself that I had better not cry because dad is going to be mad that I hurt myself. (I was a very clumsy child.)

I looked at the egg, and moved it all around so that I could see all sides. In big black letters, I saw "RB". I had no idea what that meant, but I knew that I won something.

I ran straight back up the field and the prize guy told me I had to pick five more eggs. The suspense was killing me, so I grabbed the first five eggs I saw. The prize guy then told me that I had better go find my dad, and pointed me in the right direction.

Into the bar side of the Fish and Game I went, smiling ear-to-ear, jumping for joy and yelling DADDY! I crawled up on the bar stool next to my dad and showed him my prized egg. I got scared when he shouted out my mother's name and told me to follow him.

It seemed like an eternity later when my mom, dad, and I finally reached the prize table. I couldn't believe my eyes when the guy behind the table handed my dad a cage with a large white bunny rabbit with huge red, glowing eyes. That was MY rabbit!

I named him Peter instantly, and ordered my dad to put him in the car, where I would be waiting to go home. After my siblings were all done, my parents decide they had better pack it up. Where were they going to get rabbit food and bedding on Easter Sunday?

They found a little place in town where my dad knew the owner. He opened up the mill just so my dad could get what we needed to take care of my new pet.

I sat outside, beside the cage, with Peter the entire day. I was the happiest child in history that day, and I had my own rabbit.

Peter would eventually figure out how to boost open the lock on the cage with his nose. I chased him around town at least a hundred times. After about a year he would escape and I wouldn't ever see him again.

Nonetheless, I will never forget my first pet, and my awesome Easter Sunday!

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