The Day I Met the Easter Bunny

My family has never been overly religious. We don't spend Christmas attending carols in church I don't really understand what it means to be baptized, so it's no surprise that we don't spend our Easter weekend attending various church services. That however, doesn't mean I don't have any memories of Easter.

For as long as I can remember we have gone camping with our family at Hill End, near Bathurst in NSW Australia. The year was 1992, and I was a little 5 year old girl. This Easter memory will last with me forever.-the day I saw the Easter Bunny.

I can't remember exactly if it was Good Friday or Easter Sunday, all I knew was that sometime soon I was going to wake up and enjoy some chocolate eggs around the campfire with my cousins.

I think at the time I was building some amazingly structured house out of leaves and sticks for my Barbies that I had brought camping with me, when all of a sudden my Mum yelled out to me 'Look, Lisey! What's that over there?'

Looking up from my newly designed Eco-Lodge Barbie Dream House, I noticed something burrowing behind a tree with dirt flicking out from one of the giant Blue Gums.

'What is it Mum?' I asked curiously, getting up and completely abandoning my architectural masterpiece on the ground.

'I'm not sure' she replied in mock bewilderment. 'Keep, watching, you might see something!'

I stared intently at the tree. Careful not to get too close in-I had after all heard of the stories my Uncle's told about the Bunyips around the lake. I crouched down and waited quietly for something to happen.

The next thing I knew I saw a grey furry tail wiggle from behind the tree, some more digging and then two fluffy ears poked out and quickly hid behind the tree again.

'Mum! I whispered frantically, 'I think that is the Easter Bunny!'

'I think you're right Lisey! Why don't you try calling it over?' She said pushing me gently towards the tree.

I called out 'Easter Bunny. Eaaaster Bunnyyyyy' a few times, until to my surprise this beautifully grey rabbit with a pink nose and ears, hopped over to me with an ornate cane basket in her hands. (Yes, the Easter Bunny is a female).

'Hello Elise. How are you? Happy Easter! Have you been a good girl? Would you like some yummy Easter eggs?' It said in a soft and gentle voice.

I was amazed and bewildered. It was all a little too much for my five year old mind. I mean I was actually seeing THE Easter Bunny! This memory of Easter will last with me forever! I couldn't say a word except nod my head and hold out my hands.

The Easter Bunny pulled out three coloured eggs from her basket and put them in my hands. Gave me a hug, wished me Happy Easter again and then bounded back behind the tree she came from.

'Aren't you a lucky girl!' Mum said in over excited amazement.

My mother's voice snapped me back into reality out of my dream like state and I realised I just got eggs from the Easter Bunny! I ran back over the campfire to show my Dad and happily started peeling away the bright wrapping from around the chocolate.

A few moments later, my grandma came over the fire where I squealed with excitement as I showed her the eggs I just got from the Easter bunny. 'Oh Nanny, I wish you were here. You missed out on seeing the Easter bunny; she was such a beautiful one!'

'I'm sure she was Lisey' said my Nan, giving me a cuddle that felt very similar to the one I just received from the Easter Bunny...