Rabbit Romance: My Love Affair With Bunnies

Easter and springtime bring to mind baby chicks, eggs, and of course, bunnies.  With their twitchy little noses, fluffy tails, and long, soft ears, rabbits are simply adorable.  I have always loved them. 

I grew up in a home where my father did not care for pets.  Dad had already nixed my request for a kitten or puppy.  It was only due to my Mom surreptitiously sneaking him into the backyard along with his rabbit hutch that I came to know and love Oliver. Oliver was a very fat, sweet rabbit, as brown as a bread crust and with feet as big as my hands.  When Dad discovered my new pet, he was told that Oliver’s previous owner had departed for college and could no longer care for him.  There was no taking him back.  Wink wink.

Oliver became my best friend.  I would dress him up in baby doll bonnets and Daisy Duke cut-offs, feed him lettuce and carrots, and snuggle with him.  I would ride around with him tucked safely inside a white flower-power basket on the front of my bicycle, which often drew astonished looks from folks we passed in the neighborhood.

My love of rabbits only grew with my love of reading about them.  Beatrix Potter’s Tale of Peter Rabbit was a favorite of mine.  I ended up naming one of my sons Peter; it may have been my adoration for Peter Rabbit.  I loved that Peter Rabbit was the naughty one in the family, sneaking into Mr. McGregor’s garden and binging on veggies.  After his misadventures, his siblings, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail get fresh bread and blackberry jam but poor Peter gets only chamomile tea and is put to bed.  Poor Peter!

Brer Rabbit, created by Joel Chandler Harris, lived in a briar patch and was always one-upping the naughty Brer Fox.  I have always admired him because he was resourceful and survived by his wits to escape capture.  He was a tricky trickster!

The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams, is a dear and lovely book I am besotted with.  Is there anyone that does not love this classic quote?

 Thumper, the bunny in Bambi always reminded me “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”  A good life lesson that I need to abide by.

The White Rabbit in Alice and Wonderland always fascinated me, running around helter-skelter with his pocket watch.  There was also the March hare who was obsessed with having tea.  Never a dull moment for the bunnies in Wonderland!

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Dubose Heyward tempted me with the most magical fairy tale adventures.

Do you have any favorite rabbits or rabbit stories?  If so, I would love to hear about them.  Thank you for visiting my blog.  Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and a beautiful Easter!