It didn’t occur to me until I saw the Easter candy going down the conveyer belt, that the “bunny” had now infiltrated the French story. And if not the story, at least the basket. That was not the case when I arrived many years ago. I still don’t know if I have it exactly right, but the delivery system had to do with bells, and not bunnies. And the candy reflected said bells along with chickens and bears and eggs. I laughed inside at first, how ridiculous, a bell delivering candy, when so obviously it’s a bunny…on it’s hind legs…well, ok… I had to agree that both stories needed a little blind faith, and a whole lot of wonder. And I suppose that’s the key to everything.

Through the years I have inserted my own narrative into the French culture. Decorating eggs at Easter. Bringing turkey, the whole holiday I guess, of Thanksgiving. Pictures and portraits and stories. So many stories of my grandparents. My mother. I guess I just want everyone to love them as much as I do. I want you to love them. Because I think if you love them, you will also think of them, and you will miss them, and I won’t have to carry that alone. Their beautiful lives and loves will be so light, so easily carried on the wings of a bell, or the hop of a bunny. Maybe that’s silly, but don’t we have to be? Isn’t it silly to believe that love can change everything? That it can lift us? Renew us? Give us new life year after year? Help us rise up, yearly, daily, minute by minute? 

There is a weight to the world right now that is in dire need of that silly. We all could use a little faith and a whole lot of wonder. No matter how you deliver it today, may your love be light, may your joy travel far. Happy Easter. Joyeuses Pâques!