A Holiday Mystery Revealed (Postcard #86)

This Postcard was co-written by The Gardener and D3 (mostly the latter).

 

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Growing up in a Jewish household, my experience at this time of year was a bit different from most of my friends.  For one week my brother, sister and I would show up to school completely bread-free:  matzo sandwiches, matzo cookies or macaroons, colored sugar fruit slices for a treat, etc.

 

Then I met The Queen, who is Presbyterian and also half Greek, and discovered that the spring religious season is not complete without garlic-roasted lamb and potatoes and red-dyed eggs.  As much as I enjoy Passover (which may be my favorite holiday of the year), the lamb and potatoes are unparalleled as a feast.

 

Between the two families, D1, D2, D3 and D4 have pretty much had the full range of cultural experiences, which is helpful because there are still some traditions I don’t fully understand.  For example…

 

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On the Thursday before Easter I was picking up a few items at the supermarket, and noticed a shelf full of Peeps bunnies.  For those who may not know the name, Peeps are those brightly colored marshmallow animals. Since marshmallows eventually go stale and there appeared to be far more on the shelf than seemed likely to move by Easter Sunday, only three days hence, I texted D3 and asked “What do you suppose happens to all the peeps bunnies after Easter?” 

 

About four hours later, the following reply text from D3 popped up on my iPhone:
 
Well…                                           

A week after Easter at quarter past five,                                          
Every marshmallow bunny at once comes alive.                                        
They hop off the shelves and move down market aisles,                     
Winking at dolls and receiving grand smiles.

 

They waddle out doors and parade through the street,             
Thankful that they were not chosen to eat.                                      
But the poor things don't know- they'd be better off dead.      
These sugary creatures don't know what's ahead.

 

They dutifully follow their sickly sweet friends.                         
Until they approach what will soon be the end.                             
They come to the edge of the specified place.                         
And at once the sounds cease from each colorful face.

 

They hear a loud rumble rise out of the ground.                                
A crack opens up and their hearts start to pound.                      
(They don't have the truth- just the rumors they keep                 
'Cause nobody lives on to tell- not a peep).

 

A giant black cauldron floats up to the crack.                                 
And swallows the peeps- then it gently floats back                       
As if nothing had happened. The street's again bare.                    
Not a trace left behind- not even a hare.

 

But under the street the machines are at work-                                        
They're bubbling, brewing, they toot, twist and jerk.                  
The sugar is melted, re-colored and poured.                                    
Into bunny shaped molds- and then it is stored.

 

Until 10 months later, 6 days and a night                                         
The end of the tunnel has come- there is light!                           
The boxes are lifted and shipped to the store                              
Where the recycled candies are welcomed once more

 

By the dollies who saw as the last batch walked by,                          
But they'll never tell the new treats- and here's why:            
How would you feel- I mean wouldn't you hate                         
A man who would lead you to that kind of fate?

 

You'd think it a horrible end- you’d not go.                         
Because we can't see that big picture, you know?                    
It's just like the story the Bible relays.                                   
Jesus was killed- but then rose in three days!

 

Some things might just seem to suck at the time,                              
But trust that God has the big picture in mind.                          
So I hope that this answers the question you had.                     
(for once, it feels good to know more than my dad).

 

And know this: if another strange query appears,                         
Just ask; like those sugary treats, I'm all ears.

 

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Happy Easter, Passover, Greek Easter, or whatever you might celebrate at this time of year!