An interview with a special friend of Manchester children (hint: it’s the Easter Bunny!)
Michael Lynch was very happy to get an egg after seeing the Easter Bunny! (File photo from Manchester Sportsman’s Club)
Editor’s Note: Parents, there are no spoilers in this interview! You may read this story with your children, if you wish.
Manchester is fortunate to have its very own Easter Bunny, and The Manchester Mirror got a rare opportunity for an interview with her last week.
You read that correctly–The Easter Bunny is a girl! She confided that some of her close friends call her “E.B.” for short.
Manchester Mirror (MM): What do you like best about being the Easter Bunny?
Easter Bunny (EB): “I just love the kids! My whole life has been about the kids, really. I love seeing them run to look for the eggs every year at the egg hunt. It just makes me smile. I remember at first, a lot of the little girls would come in their Easter Bonnets if it was warm enough. And that was always so much fun to see.”
MM: How long have you been the Easter Bunny?
EB: “I’ve been doing this for 46 years here in Manchester. I remember it like it was yesterday. I started out way before the Men’s Club–it was the Jaycees back then, and they decided they wanted to have an egg hunt, with the Easter Bunny. Most people didn’t want to drive all the way to Ann Arbor for their kids to see the Easter Bunny, and get a picture. So I was glad to step up and serve the community. It’s great that the Men’s Club does this–I really appreciate them. Now, I’ve watched three generations of kids grow up here in Manchester. I see kids that are bringing their own children and now even a few of their grandchildren to the egg hunt. It’s really rewarding. I am not tired of it and I don’t have any plans to give it up any time soon! The Men’s Club doesn’t even ask me any more–they just know I’ll be there.”
MM: Is there anything you don’t like about being the Easter Bunny?
EB: “I really don’t like it when it snows! Any other weather is fine with me. But the one year the snow was so deep and I had wet feet all during the egg hunt. It was very uncomfortable.”
EB: “Another thing that is very hard for me is when the little ones get scared of me. It’s so hard not to be able to comfort the crying kids, and I know their parents want to get a picture of them with the Easter Bunny. I try and hold them facing away from me so they don’t get too frightened.”
MM: What are some fun Easter Bunny moments you have had over the years?
EB: I visit the Manchester Co-op Preschool and sometimes the Manchester Early Childhood Center. One year, they were supposed to have Ronald McDonald visit the kids, and he got sick. So they called me at the last minute, and I was able to make it. The kids were so surprised to see me instead of Ronald McDonald! That was a lot of fun.
EB: “About five years ago, Scott and Lisa Poet asked me to come to Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Manchester Sportsman’s Club. I have been doing that every year since. I love doing it, but the day before Easter is such a busy day for me, so I can only give them an hour. But I enjoy seeing all of the kids who come there, too!” (See related article about Breakfast with the Easter Bunny).
EB: “Another fun thing that happened a long time ago, was that the police used to come and pick me up and drive me to Carr Park! When they got close to the park, they would turn on the siren, and then the kids knew I was coming.”
MM: Do you have any Easter Bunny Secrets you would like to share?
EB: “A lot of people don’t know that I make and color and bring 15 dozen eggs to the Egg Hunt. A lot of times, littler kids have a hard time finding them and there are so many big kids who get a lot very quickly. I have my own basket full of eggs so that helps me to make sure every child gets at least a couple of eggs.
EB: “Also, people probably don’t realize that it is very hard for me to see anything that is not straight ahead of me. If a child is standing too close to me, I might not be able to see him or her because I can’t look down! A lot of times I have someone to help me so I don’t run into things–or people.”
The annual Men’s Club Easter Egg Hunt is held at Carr Park on March 31. The hunt begins promptly at 1 pm and is usually done within just a few minutes. Come early–not late–so you can visit with the Easter Bunny and have the chance to find a prize egg. This is a free event for the entire community, and is put on by the Men’s Club as part of their service to Manchester.
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