by Kelsey Penrose
The annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Nevada State Railroad Museum is not for the weak of heart.
While the younger, less blood thirsty children are given their own slot earlier in the morning, the real action comes in the afternoon when the field of eggs and treasures becomes a no-grown-ups, no holds barred, every kid for himself gladiator ring.
To win the egg hunt, you must have a few things up your sleeve. First, you need preparation. Will you go right to the center, where the eggs are at their thickest? Or will you skim the sidelines, hoping your competitors will charge right for the center? You only have a few seconds to decide, or else you might be eggless at the end of the day.
The second thing you need is bravery. You must be able to throw yourselves head first into the charge, you must be willing to get irreversible grass stains on your nice pastel pants as you throw yourself down onto the nearest pile of eggs. Your mother so lovingly picked those out for the day, not fully understanding the battle. We can’t blame her; next year, she’ll be more prepared with reinforced knees.
The third thing you need is strategy. Will you be the lone wolf, sharing your winnings with no one? Or will you team up with a specialized team made up of different skill sets? The tallest can get to the center first, while the shortest has a better center of gravity; this is important for pouncing on the eggs that will no doubt fly out of baskets as their captors sprint and roll looking for more.
The last, and most important thing you need, is a grown up who will give you a high five or a consoling hug after the chaos has ended a mere thirty seconds after it began.
A particular shout out goes to the staff of the train museum who aptly chose “The Ride of the Valkyries” as the soundtrack after the whistle was blown. Our Easter bonnets go off to you all as the true victors of the day.
