2020 Bunny

Do you remember when the Beatles arrived in America in 1964?

Me neither, but I heard it was big.

This past weekend our little town got to experience something of equal magnitude.

Once again, a global-wide sensation came to America.

First name, Easter, last name, Bunny. (Middle name, unknown.)

Yep, Easter Bunny was coming to town, and not just any town…Our Town!

Sure, he’s been visiting for centuries. But usually it’s in the middle of the night, when he discreetly leaves candy for children.

This time…

No candy, no discretion, no children.

Okay, maybe this was originally intended for the children, but after a full month of quarantine the adults were just as excited for this furry friend.

Unlike other bunnies, this one didn’t hippity hop through the wee hours of the morning. This bunny was chauffeured during the respectable hours of 1 – 5 pm.

The bunny buzz was all over social media, but it was my friend Jill who clued me in. “Our street, tomorrow,” she said. “Between 2 and 3.”

She sent me a link of the color-coded Bunny Parade Map; this was no joke.

Apparently Easter Bunny and Big Carrot (more on Big Carrot later) had made the rounds in other Moorpark neighborhoods the day prior, and the reviews were overwhelming.

If you only see one bunny this year, this is the one!

Then, with all this information, why oh why, was I not at the edge of my driveway, giddy with anticipation, at 1:55 pm?

Instead, I was driving home from Trader Joe’s, mentally going over the grocery items I had just purchased…bananas, almond milk, eggs…eggs? EGGS!

BUNNY!

I had completely forgotten.

“Oh, no!” I yelled to my husband. “Easter Bunny!”

I texted Jill, Any sightings?

She replied, He’s very close.

What had I been thinking? Why was I grocery shopping at such a precarious hour? Where were my priorities?

Frantically, I pulled up the Parade Map. According to the bunny tracker, he was making his way down CedarPine Lane.

Slow down, Bunny!

But it was too late.

Seconds later, he made a right turn to head up our street.

To confirm my fears, Jill sent a picture of Easter Bunny on our street. And it wasn’t just him, there was a procession of other vehicles and…

Was that a carrot?!

I immediately called my oldest daughter, who was home. “EASTER BUNNY IS ON OUR STREET, RIGHT NOW!” I yelled. “THIS IS NOT A DRILL!”

As she ran down the driveway, I could hear sirens, honking, and music through the phone.

“I can’t believe I’m missing this,” I said.

“Easter Bunny waits for no one,” she replied.

Sad, but true.

I studied the tracker (God Bless the Bunny Tracker!) and we did some quick rerouting. We would catch Easter Bunny on the corner of Laurelhurst and Mill Valley.

It was 2:11 when my husband pulled the car over and we jumped out.

On many of the lawns, neighbors cheered, laughed, and raised their solo cups.

You’d think, out of self-respect, these adults would have rustled up some “age-appropriate” neighborhood kids.

Clearly, we had no shame.

Was it the anticipation of the bunny that made this occasion so joyous?

Or was it the thrill of interacting with people that didn’t share your DNA?

Probably both.

Then, in the near distance, the sound of sirens grew and the procession was upon us.

A police truck led the brigade. Following right behind, another truck carried the opening act, Big Carrot, looking orange and elegant, and radiating a healthy dose of Vitamin A.

We chanted. “Big Carrot! Big Carrot! Big Carrot!”

Like any good opening act, she brought the crowd to their feet.

Not to be outdone by Big Carrot was the one and only, EASTER BUNNY, who was stationed in the next vehicle. #socialdistancing

Easter Bunny stood elegant, in all his white-furred glory, waving his paw. He didn’t say much, but his presence commanded respect.

Jumping and waving, we hollered, “We love you Bunny!”

Closely following Easter Bunny was a police car.

Based on the proximity and sirens, it could have easily been mistaken for a slow-speed chase, leading one to ponder…

What’d you do, Bunny?

But we all knew this was a law-abiding hare and the officers were merely escorts.

The last truck blasted music, adding to the celebratory air.

A few minutes later, the procession disappeared around a corner. My husband and I smiled at each other.

I’m not going to lie, that was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.

I don’t know if it was because we were in the midst of a pandemic, but like the 1964 Beatles*, the 2020 Bunny would not be forgotten.

Here’s hoping Bunny’s back in 2021.

You too, Big Carrot.

*I’m in no way implying that 2020 Bunny possesses the musical talent of the Beatles. I don’t know if he has any musical talent. He was pretty quiet.