The Easter Egg Hunt

I still have fond memories of our first and last Easter egg hunt. That year, my sisters and I boiled and dyed dozens and dozens and dozens of white, store-bought eggs. I say “white” because those brown, hen-hatched, country eggs don’t dye easily.

But hold on for a minute. Before the kids go egg-hunting, let me tell you about some expressions that we used that may make the Easter egg hunt a bit more exciting. Then we’ll go out to the pasture and watch the kids hunt their loot. We used these terms when someone was looking for something and we knew where it was — or we just wanted to be contrary while they frustrated themselves trying to find what they were looking for. They’re your basic “hot and cold” hints.

If the seeker was a little off, we’d say, “You’re cool.” If they were quite a bit off, we’d say, “You’re getting cold.” If they were way out in the boondocks we’d say, “Boy, you’re freezing.” Then, if they were somewhat in the territory of their target, we’d say, “You’re getting warm,” and the closer they got to the object, the more we’d say, “You’re getting warmer.” If they were getting close to the target, we’d say, “You’re getting hot.” And if they were right on the target and didn’t see it, We’d say, “Look out. You’re on fire.”

So after we tucked the eggs everywhere that an egg could be hidden, we eagerly watched to see if the little ones were on the path to finding them. If they started walking in the wrong direction, we’d say, “You’re cold … cold … cold … You’re freezing.” Then, they would turn around and head in another direction. When they got real close to an egg, we’d say, “You’re getting hot.” If they were about to step on an egg, we’d shout, “You’re burning up!” That was their clue to look down and move something around. When they did, then, bingo — there was their treasure.

I had fun just watching them having fun while they romped and tromped on springtime’s soft, green grass sprouting across the landscape. Then, after we counted the eggs and were satisfied that they had found them all, they gathered them into their little, homemade, brown-paper-sack Easter bags and we headed to the house to gobble them all up.