T. GAMBLE: Easter Bunny is enjoying prosperous times

Easter has once again come and gone with all the hoopla associated with it. There are many good things that come from the holiday, including seeing some old friends at church that I had not seen since Christmas church.

I never have understood the need to attend church at Easter if there was no need to attend the other 51 weeks, but hey, one never knows. That one visit might start a spark, so I’m glad to see ‘em.

Of course, the Easter Bunny came to see the 11-year-old Princess and 10-year-old Hurricane boy. He must really be prospering, because he sure brings a lot more than when I was a kid.

When I grew up, he just left some hardboiled eggs, maybe a chocolate bunny and that was about it. I had to dress up like I was auditioning for a gay musical — dress shorts, shiny patent leather shoes and white shirt with tie.

All the old women would “ooh” and “ah” about how cute I looked. I’d just as soon been forced to go see the musical “Oklahoma” — which, come to think of it, I was forced to go to as a kid — than suffer the indignation of being pinched on the cheek and told how cute I was. I’ve noticed nobody pinches my cheek anymore and the last time anybody told me I was cute Nixon was president.

Now, the Easter Bunny brings all kinds of toys, plastic eggs filled with candy and sometimes money, and it looks like Santa Claus came by the time it is all over.

I never got plastic eggs filled with money from the Easter Bunny. It could be because the plastic eggs were not invented until I was 19 years old in 1978. Then again, my mother still sent me an Easter basket in college and that went over just great with all my college dorm room buddies. After receiving the college Easter basket, I probably should have dressed back up in my dress shorts, patent leather shoes and tie.

The Hurricane expressed great doubt over the Easter Bunny, declaring, “Sure, a giant bunny that lays eggs. Right, Dad.”

I replied, “Well, I still think the Falcons might one day win the Super Bowl.”

To which he added, “Well, given a choice between the two I’m going with the giant bunny laying eggs.”

The Princess never once cast a doubt, awash in the glow of peep candy and various pool toys. She knows it is all about faith.

I’ve read recently where some kids even got bikes from the Easter Bunny. I don’t know why, I guess so they can sit on them while they play their games on their phones that Santa Claus brought them.

I hope the old Easter Bunny keeps coming. Maybe in a few years he will bring them a car for their 16th birthday. If he does, I’ll dress up in my dress shorts, patent leather shoes and tie.

Email columnist T. Gamble at [email protected].