I have fond memories of Easter when I was a really small kid, maybe between 4 - 9 years old. I lived in Culver City back then, right near Downtown Los Angeles and my family had a nice little house within driving distance of both sets of grandparents. I loved both of them equally, but my Grandma on my Dad's side was always something really special. Her name was Oma, which literally means Grandmother, and she lived up to the name and spoiled me rotten.
One of my favorite memories of her comes from an Easter when I was probably four years old. My Grandpa was a member of the Wilshire Country Club at that time and we would routinely go there on Easter Sunday for a brunch put on for the members there. I didn't realize how privileged I was, I was just a kid wandering in awe at tables that seemed miles long and piled as high to the ceiling with foods and the most remarkable sweets I had ever seen.
That year they had an Easter Egg hunt out on the putting green and the grounds near the clubhouse, all the kids would go out and find Easter Eggs, but there was a BIG twist. Somewhere out on the grounds was a hidden GOLD Easter Egg and whoever found this got a prize. I don't remember what it was but I believe it was a picture with the Easter Bunny. Well, I was psyched! I wanted to find that egg, so off I set with my little basket, looking around bushes and flowers and stuff with Grandma in tow.
Oma just tutt tutted like she always did, and I found it strange that she was sort of "guiding" me around. "Why if you look there, I see a blue egg, and over there I see a red." It was like she was psychic or something. Well, what to my wandering ears did hear but her musing. "Oh well, I wonder if you've looked there hmm? Just pick up that little leaf." So I did, and my eyes boggled. It was the golden egg! I'd found the golden egg!
The best I can describe it comes from a later experience reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. When Charlie finds that Golden ticket ... well that was me with the egg. I rushed with it all the way up and showed my parents and the promptor and I had my picture and prize. I was so happy! It wasn't until years later my parents told me that Oma had known exactly where the egg was before hand and lead me to it. I'm not sure how she knew, but she went out of her way to make sure her favorite and only grandson found it.
Was it cheating? Yeah. Was it a little on the slide? Sure. But you know what, I loved her for it, and I still love it. To this day, I wish I could thank her wherever she is for all she did in this and many other stories.
