Lots of kids look forward to traditional Easter egg hunts in the spring. Historically, the White House Easter Egg Roll has been taking place since 1878. That’s 146 years of eggs rolling down the lawn at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue! Growing up in Canfield, Ohio as an elementary school student, I recall participating in an egg hunt that proved lucky!

Some details about the event are sketchy but others are as clear as a bell. I am certain the Canfield Junior Women’s League was involved in planning this egg hunt, in which my Mom was a founding member.

In the mid-1970s, the spring weather was warm and balmy, and the sun seemed to peak out of the clouds more consistently than today. On the day of the egg hunt, the weather was perfect. I recall a crystal blue sky accompanied by an early afternoon sun that felt warm and welcoming on my face.

The festivities took place at our local high school. The large grassy area and small hill where all the kids gathered for the hunt is now a student parking lot. My, how things have changed!

I vividly recall when Mom drove our station wagon up Brookpark Dive, the street adjacent to the school, the sun was glowing on the hundreds of plastic eggs. Traditional pink, yellow, orange, blue, green, and purple eggs were packed together over the whole area. You could barely tell that new spring grass was trying to poke through the ground. The memory I’ve kept is of the eggs looking like a huge rainbow cascading down that small hill. It was a glorious sight for a little girl like me! I was eager to find my friends with my Easter basket in hand.

After filling our baskets with many eggs, my friends and I sat on the dewy trampled grass and cracked them open. We got groovy trinkets like superballs, plastic rings, jellybeans, foil chocolate eggs, and speckled bubble gum eggs.

But I was the lucky one that day! Inside one of my eggs was a gold star. I was the Grand Prize winner! I went home that afternoon with a big chocolate rabbit. I was overjoyed that I picked the winning egg from all those that were on the hill.

A life-size bunny with matted white fur and a bow tie was there to present me with my prize. I believe I got my picture taken with him holding my chocolate bunny but I don’t have a hardcopy to prove that. It wouldn’t have surprised me if I ate the whole chocolate bunny that day along with my other treats. I’m sure I attended other Easter egg hunts through the years, but because I won the Grand Prize, this is the one I recollect.

I hope your spring celebrations are filled with special surprises and, of course, a jumbo chocolate rabbit sitting right in the middle of your basket! To those who celebrate, Happy Easter! Enjoy your family and friends!