Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, but the seasonal chocolate eggs and the bunny who delivers them are nowhere to be found in scripture. In fact, the exact origins of the Easter Bunny’s escapades around the globe delivering colorful eggs and candy seem a bit of a mystery.  Maybe even more so than the chubby dude in the red PJs who makes his rounds in December.  History and speculation suggest that the eggs represent a time of renewal (resurrection), and regardless of our personal beliefs, the spring season certainly evokes that feeling. 

As a kid growing up in Wisconsin, there were many Easter egg hunts in the snow.  But even on those occasions, we always knew spring was coming.  So, even though there was a more immediate upside to the arrival of the Big Cheese in the red PJs, he couldn’t show up with the promise of longer days and warmer weather.  Yes, he did lay the groundwork for the New Year, but that was more of a holiday for adults who wanted to get drunk and blow stuff up. (Okay, maybe that was just Wisconsin) Regardless, the excitement was shredding wrapping paper on Christmas morning, and anything after that was a let-down for a kid. 

So here we are in the midst of the Easter weekend.  And while the religious teachings of my childhood will always remind me this is a time to reflect on all that I have to be grateful for, Easter morning will include renewal and excitement for the days ahead. Of course, as a child, part of that excitement was a more immediate future that involved jellybeans and chocolate bunnies, while the “days ahead” often came with forgettable stomach aches and sugar wthdrawal.     

Here along the Ventura County Coast, there will be no egg hunts in the snow.  But we are looking to brighter days ahead as we move not only out of the darker days of winter but the darker days of COVID.  As I write this, businesses are reopening, and some semblance of normal appears to be on the horizon.  This past year it has been necessary to focus on what we have to be grateful for, but now we’re ready for some renewal. 

Happy Easter from Jeff & Rebecca!

P.S.  Rebecca would like everyone to know that she actually grew up in Nebraska and assumes no responsibility for my thought processes.