Merry Easter

By Audrey Kletscher Helbling

    More often than not, greetings exchanged in southern Minnesota on Sunday deviated from the usual, “Happy Easter!” Rather, folks wished each other a “Merry Easter!”

    That message seemed more than appropriate with a major winter storm roaring through the area on Good Friday, several inches of additional snow falling overnight on Saturday and off-and-on flurries on Sunday. Never can I recall an Easter with snow like this. The wintry conditions likely contributed to the show of more turtlenecks than spring Easter finery in church on Sunday morning. In fact, I don’t recall seeing a single little girl wearing a frilly dress.

    The winter theme followed through at the family Easter gathering at my sister’s house in Waseca. Kids donned heavy winter coats, snow pants, boots, caps and mittens for the annual outdoor Easter egg hunt. Usually, all of the adults join the throng of kids to egg them on and to snap photos. Not this year. Most of us opted for warmth and comfort, peering out the windows as the kids searched for eggs. Several thrown snowballs and 15 minutes later, and the event had ended. Following footprints in the snow may have made the hunt a bit easier, although the Easter Bunny made it quite clear that the yard had been “tracked up” to mislead the searchers.

    As I pondered the beautiful winter scene, I couldn’t help but wonder if the spring of reality will ever catch up with the spring on the calendar. I hope so, because in six weeks my husband and I will host a joint college and confirmation celebration at our house. We plan to set up a tent in our back yard as our small house won’t accommodate 50. Perhaps I should have added this to the invitation: In case of cold weather, bring your winter coat.