Easter bunny or Energizer bunny?: Senior citizen bring holiday cheer
Most days Leona Gordon poses before the mirror, deep in debate with herself.
Fire engine red? Or perhaps the more mellow mauve?
Only one week a year can the 84-year-old gussy up sans guesswork.
"This week I only wear one shade of lipstick," she said.
Pink on Monday. Pink on Tuesday. And pink from now until Sunday. After all, a girl's gotta match, and what other color blends with a bunny costume?
For nearly 30 years, Gordon has donned extra ears and a pink poof of a tail to share the spirit of the Easter season.
"The expression on people's faces make me feel so good," she said. "Each year, I get more smiles, and let me tell you, when you put yourself into the world, you get so much more back out of it."
It started in 1980, when her brother went to live at the Enoble Manor Care Center and mourned not being home for the religious holiday.
"So I thought, 'OK. I'll make him feel happy and surprise him,'" Gordon said. "And that's what I did. I borrowed a bunny costume from a friend, and I surprised him. And while I was there, I thought, 'It'd be a shame to waste this. Why not make the rounds?' And I went and told everybody there to have a happy Easter, and I haven't missed a year since."
Her one-time, one-stop excursion has since expanded. Nursing homes, preschools, facilities for the disabled, restaurants serving Easter brunch -- she visits them one-by-one, day-after-day the entire week leading up to Easter.
On Wednesday, her day started with wishing a day care full of children to have a happy Easter. At 11:30 sharp, she pulled up at her last appointment for the day.
With a spring in her stride -- not to be mistaken for a hop, mind you -- she enters the Enoble Manor Care Center, which holds a dear spot in her heart. Her brother has since passed, but his memory remains as she walks through the doors.
"Happy Easter!" she says.
She travels from table to table, her cheery greeting combining with the clatter of spoons scraping bowls. As the residents munch on chili and salads, she takes the time to touch each of their shoulders, passing out hugs and salutations to any and all.
"You should be hopping a bit," one resident says.
Gordon adjusts the pompon puffs lining her costume and says, "I don't really hop anymore."
But who knows. Maybe that will be part of the routine next year.
"You never know what's around the corner," she said.
Although she does know one thing about the future.
"I'll keep doing this as long as my legs will hold up."
