This year, he has named himself Papa Cottontail.  Funny how, when we were kids, he would tell us to get back in the bed when we came downstairs to look for our Easter baskets.  “It’s five o’ clock in the morning!! Get back upstairs and get in the bed! The Easter Bunny isn’t even up yet!”

Now that he’s older and has twelve grandchildren, all of a sudden, he becomes Mr. Happy Easter.  I remember him telling us, “Keep it up and you’ll get nothing for Easter but a punch in the nose!!”  Now, he is ecstatic to buy chocolate bunnies, not only for all the grandchildren, but for the neighbor kids, too.  Yep, he has become the nice, neighborhood viejo that all the kids love.  We had to deal with Papa Scrooge as children.  Maybe that’s the way it is with Mexican fathers.  Mexican fathers are strict and very coarse with their children but soft and fluffy with the grandchildren.  Is it because they become sensitive in their old age?  Or…is it because they no longer have anyone to boss around?

I really think my Dad misses having someone to boss.  You see, my Mom is the only one left at home and she is not having it!  There’s no way he’ll be bossing Mom around these days.  Once upon a time, maybe, but now….no way! I find myself thinking that I wish my Dad would’ve been softer and sweeter with us.  Sure, it would have been nice to have him hugging us and spoiling us constantly, but I surely wouldn’t be the woman I am today.

For everyone that can relate to this story, I hope your Easter was great and your time with your family was very reminiscent.  I know my Easters will always be interesting.