EASTER: To Hunt or Not To Hunt

lots of eggs, lots of kids, lots of successes

Whether Christian or Non-Christian, the Easter Egg Hunt is a popular event. It is the community event for this holiday. It is meant to bring people from all ages and cultures together to watch their children achieve success through a hide and seek game. However, some of us do not have such successes with this event. Below is a comical version of my childhood experience when I was 5 years old.  It scarred me for life.

I got to the annual Willamalane Easter Egg hunt late so I had missed the hunt that was organized for my age. You know the one; the eggs are sprinkled in the grass close to the starting area so that every little kid could find at least one egg and achieve a feeling of success.  (Kinda like this picture.)  Knowing I had missed my chance at finding beautifully colored eggs that could be filled with delicious candy, I started to cry (already a bad start). “That’s OK! You can do the next hunt with the older kids,” the organizers said trying to comfort me. I was somewhat appeased and thought to myself, yea, I can do that. The kids will be older but that’s no big deal. I was used to that, I was the baby of the family and was used to competing with bigger, older kids.

Well, those kids were definitely older and bigger - and out for blood. Their baskets were dwarfed in their large hands and they stood twice my height. Their legs were taller than my entire body! I felt small and insignificant but I was determined. I wanted an EGG and I was going to get one!

age appropriate hunts are great

At the start of the event, the organizers got all the participants lined up and ready. We stood shoulder to shoulder (shoulder to hip for me) waiting for the shot of the starting gun (yes, they had a starting gun). After hearing the gun, which made me jump, everyone took off. I ran as fast as my little legs could go. My basket was hitting me in the side and really preventing me from keeping up with the older kids. (Yea, that’s the reason I could not keep up.) It was a big basket and I was small. It was half my size and very cumbersome to run with.  The big kids were pulling away.  I pushed myself more than I ever had before.....I wanted an EGG!

As I was running, I was watching the ground; the eggs were nowhere in sight. They were not sprinkled throughout the area. They were all at the other end of the giant field we had to run across. I was getting very winded and tired just trying to get there. It tookthe big kids seconds to get there; me minutes.  When I finally did reach the other side, the eggs were gone. Older kids had already scooped them up. It was not a hunt - it was a race and I stood no chance of winning amongst these big kids.

As I approached the far end of the field, gasping for breath, the big kids were heading back with their baskets brimming; full of brightly colored eggs and candy. I turned away in tears. I never got the chance to find and egg.

one of my favorite faces as a kid -got me lots of attention

An older girl saw my face of disappointment (or maybe she thought I was going to pass out from exhaustion) and approached me. She told me she was sorry I did not find an egg and gave me one of hers. It was a bitter sweet moment. I thanked her and was glad I got a prize but it stung. I did not “earn” that egg and being handed one was another slap in the face that I was inadequate.

I look back at the story now and realize it is rather funny. I also look at it and thank goodness my kids did not have to face such disappointment in the egg hunting game. That’s right, I never took them to an Easter Egg hunt. We had our own hunts at home or at The Little Gym. We played hide and seek with the beanbags before it was written into the curriculum.

When you think about it, running through a giant field with other kids, searching for a brightly colored prizes that are the size of, well, an egg….sounds impossible! Especially if you are competing for a limited number of prizes and your competition is twice your size. However, if you are into it for the nostalgia, successes (make sure you make it to the age appropriate hunt), community or just free candy, here is a list of local hunts:
Saturday, April 23rd

Philomath Community Egg Hunt - 10:00 am, Philomath Middle School grounds. Age divisions are 0-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-11 year olds. All participants need to register upon arrival for the egg hunt.

First Assembly of God Easter Egg Hunt - 9:30am, 2817 Santiam Hwy SE, ages 2-11 Free

Albany Downtown Association Easter Egg Roll - 10am-noon, Montieth Park, Free

LBLANA Easter Egg Hunt & BBQ - 11am Timber Linn Park, $4 per person

Albany Downtown Association Bunny Trail Scavenger Hunt - 11am, Monteith Park

Easter Bunny at Heritage Mall - 11am-7pm, Heritage Mall

Brownsville Easter Egg Hunt - 1pm, Pioneer Park, Downtown Brownsville

Happy Easter Egg Hunting everyone!


Denise