Easter Dreamin'

I was driving to church this morning with my oldest son, Nathaniel. Michelle and the younger one, Isaiah, were staying at home, because Isaiah has a cold. Welcome to February, again, the cruelest month on the calendar for parents with young children. Nathaniel has been getting over a nasty cough himself, and he was babbling to himself as we motored along.

I think I mentioned something about how on this beautiful, blessedly frigid morning, it felt like February. Finally.

"Is it winter?" Nathaniel asked.
"Yes," I replied.

"What comes after winter?"
"Spring," I answered, and then reeled off the other seasons for good measure.

"When is Easter?" Nathaniel asked.
"That's in the spring."

"I like the Easter Bunny. He brings candy."
I grunted the equivalent of a nod.

"Will he bring me candy?"
"Only if you're a good boy," I said, riffing off the Christmas theme and figuring I'd use any incentive I can find to keep him on the straight and narrow.

"Where does he live?" Nathaniel asked.
I was stumped. I thought about this for a few seconds. Then, my mind still drowsy, I said, "Easterland."

Nathaniel thought about that one for a while.
"is that near Santa?"

How do you answer that one? Well, how do you?

So, I changed the conversation.