By Staff
Are we just getting a little too paranoid?
A notice forewarning parents on how to hide Easter eggs came in which absolutely made me realize how crazy we really are getting.
I still remember one Easter when the family came to Dowagiac to share in all the fun.
Dozens of eggs were boiled and colored and every available basket and more were emptied to be readied for the Sunday morning hunt.
The bunny had lots of helpers who took this hiding as a major challenge.
Not only were the eggs hidden, there was a basket for each child (my four and all the cousins).
Wire was used to attach one in between my hanging plants in the dining room.
Baskets were in the wood box, in the turntable used for the pots and pans and even in the hamper.
Every available nook and cranny was filled with an egg, from one end of the house to the other.
I trust that those involved in the hiding didn't really need the advice I received today in my email on the safety issues involving hiding of the eggs.
I don't remember any put into light sockets. Give me a break.
Another warning or instruction was to keep the eggs at eye level or below. What fun is that?
Most years we kept the egg hiding and hunting indoors, usually because of the unpredictable weather.
Should the day be nice, they warn, don't put eggs in the grass or foliage where poisons or pesticides have been used. Duh.
Mr. NoNo also says don't put eggs in "preexisting holes in the ground or in trees." Rather than the safety of the kids, I would be concerned that the squirrels will come out and snatch the eggs away, like they did one year.
That time we had put chocolate candy in those plastic eggs. The squirrels came out before the hunt and took the eggs into the trees, cracking them and eating the chocolate.
I remember chasing them around the yard, but they wouldn't let go of their prize.
The advice is also given to count the number of eggs hidden.
True that would prevent the awful smell from the egg you finally find in July. But what fun is that?
What wasn't on the list is serious damage can be done to your furniture, rugs and other fabrics, if the eggs are colored with dyes which never dry.
After the hunt, many eggs are eaten but first comes the egg fights.
I never had participated in an egg fight when I was growing up. My children learned from their father though and loved them.
Two people take an egg, hard boiled of course. The smaller ends of the egg are bashed against each other until one cracks. That is the loser.
If the egg is unbroken it can take on another opponent.
The only rule was after the fight the egg was to be eaten, either by itself, or in a sandwich.
I prefer mayo (Kraft, not the real stuff) with onion, celery and some pepper. The color which had seeped through to the white of the egg always made the egg salad more festive.
Years ago we let the eggs sit out all night and most of the next day, in our baskets. Now we are supposed to keep the eggs refrigerated as long as possible.
Sometimes I am surprised we made it through our Easter activities without anyone losing an arm looking for an egg in a hole, or having the dog bite a child because an egg was by her bowl.
Have a safe, and happy, Easter.