An Easter Rant

I was so, so excited. I built the day up for a solid week at the very least. We talked about what to expect. We talked about the fun. The friends. The treats. It was going to be the highlight of the week, even if the weather was rotten, it was gonna be great. Thursday night had that Christmas Eve excitement to it. The true desire to get on to sleep so the morning would come sooner, yet the adrenaline darting about, making it impossible to dream. We got up Friday, had breakfast, grabbed our baskets, our camera, our coats, and headed out the door. We drove 30 minutes. Parked a mile away. Ran into our friends. Walked briskly, chatted excitedly, kids buzzed about. We were almost there.... the emotion in the air was exhilarating. This would be great! The first age group came into view.. wait.. what was this? An egg hunt? But.. but... the eggs, they're not hidden. It's just a soccer field covered in plastic eggs. Where's the fun in that? Eh- oh, well. They're one and two. They won't care. Hurry.. it's almost time to start and we're still two soccer fields and a baseball diamond away. Run, run. At last! Wow, look at all those people. Look at all those eggs! These little guys will be here forever picking 'em up. Ok, get in line. Basket in hand. Instructions crackling in the air.. announcing..something.. "Parents! You may go with your children bu- --ease, ple--- --- them pick up the--- ggs on their own! This will--- more-- fun.. On ---Mark! --Set Go!" Crazy running. Screaming. Yelling. Leaping. Chloe bending to try to pick up an egg. Reaches. Thwarted by a thirtysomething soccer mom diving atop dozens of eggs. Mom reaches. Scoops. Empties into son's basket. Turns left. Dives. Reaches. Scoops. Dumps. Wha?? What's going on? Chloe crying, terrified, confused. Field feels like mob scene. Parents running. Carrying kids. Must be first to eggs. Kids looking confused. Shy kids standing back crying. Parents throwing elbows. Less than one minute has passed. Field's empty. No eggs left. It's time to go. Look in our basket. Three eggs and a lesson on life.