I worked for the city of El Segundo’s Recreation Department for almost 30 years. During that span one of my yearly responsibilities included organizing, staffing and implementing the much-anticipated Easter Egg Hunt for children on the Saturday before Easter. Of all the city’s events and yearly celebrations, I believe the Easter Egg Hunt was the overall favorite for young kids. How can it get any better than candy and prizes spread out on the ground just waiting for you to pick up and scarf down…and it’s FREE!?
As proved the case with all our big events in my first few years as sports supervisor, I made critical mistakes due simply to my lack of experience. The biggest miscue of my first El Segundo egg stampede resulted from my lack of preparation for the flock of bawling kids who had been pushed aside or bowled over by more aggressive hunters and consequently ended up with empty Easter baskets. The result–a group of about ten or twelve irate mothers holding blubbering youngsters and relating horrific tales of little Susie being knocked to the ground by that terrifying bully Johnny from down the street. Kids cried, mothers scolded, and I stood there profusely apologizing for their plight. Of course I knew instantly just what the dozen or so protesters needed at that very moment to silence their youngsters and sooth their rage–CANDY. Unfortunately, I hadn’t set aside any sugary treats for the angry mob. I felt terrible and responsible for their misery partly due to guilt feelings of not having the foresight to anticipate such a predicament and partly because the fuming moms were pointing their fingers at me. A few days after the empty basket uprising, I was still licking my wounds. I called a more knowledgeable, experienced friend who worked for another city. He laughingly informed me of a critical element of egg hunts, “Pete, you gotta have a ‘criers box’ for the criers. There’s always criers after the dust settles!” Point received! So for the next 25 years, I stashed a large box of candy and small toy prizes in my office. As the protesters lined up outside, a staff worker would allow two at a time into my back office. With their tiny hands I allowed the snifflers to grab candy until the tears no longer flowed. Sometimes it took two fists full of goodies and sometimes ten. It didn’t matter to me. My modest goal was to stop the tears and send the entire family home with smiles.
There is one of my favorite Easter tales that always draws big laughs, however, at the time proved somewhat traumatic. Each year before the actual dash for goodies began, we had staff members (usually those who worked in drama productions) in costume roaming the park, greeting the kids and posing for pictures. The most popular of course was the Easter Bunny. One year it was unseasonably hot with no breeze to cool the air. Being totally enclosed, the cotton costumes proved extremely warm. We cautioned the characters to take breaks and drink lots of water. Unfortunately the bunny was so mobbed with kids she neglected to heed the advice and continued hopping and posing. Due to lack of fluids, the Easter Bunny got woozy and briefly passed out in front of about fifty smiling and excited onlookers. Standing about thirty yards from the incident, I heard people screaming for help. I yelled for the paramedic stationed for the event in the office and we raced to aid the fallen Easter icon. By this time a larger crowd had gathered. While concerned parents attempted to calm their children, many began crying and screaming, I guess believing the Easter Bunny had died. With staff help we moved the crowd back as the medic removed the rabbit head from the young lady to give her some air. This created another wave of hysteria when the stricken bunny, minus her rabbit head sat up, smiled and waved to the concerned crowd and declared, “I’m okay, it’s all right kids.” I believe she was a little embarrassed. By now more firefighters were flooding the scene with sirens blasting. A couple firemen assisted the fallen bunny to the office where she drank some water and removed her costume. It was about five minutes from the start of the mad dash for candy. I knew it would be impossible to start on time so I made an announcement over our public address system to update the crowd and relieve any fears the youngsters might have had. “May I have everyone’s attention please,” my voice echoed throughout the park as the crowd hushed. “First of all, I’m happy to report that the Easter Bunny has had some cold water and is feeling just fine.” A large cheer could be heard for blocks. “Also the Easter Bunny would like to thank all the kids and parents for showing up today, and promises that the Easter Bunny will be hopping back again next year” Another roar from the crowd. “We will begin the egg hunt in ten minutes, so please go to your designated areas and have fun!” Another small cheer erupted as the crowd scrambled to their areas to participate in another successful egg hunt.
Pete Whalon, author of “The Siagon Zoo” has called Southern California home since age five.
