In my younger days, I was a member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary.

And like today, many of the service organization’s projects benefited children.

For several years while I was a member, one of those projects we offered was a children’s play that was performed at the elementary schools.

The scripts of these little one-act shows were based on a recognizable children’s stories and included teachable messages like don’t talk to strangers, be kind to others, don’t take drugs…..  You get the jist.

I liked this project. It was fun and allowed me the freedom to act silly, which is so much more accepted when hiding behind a costume.

One year, the play that we performed was an adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” and I was cast as the white rabbit. I was pregnant at the time so this was a great disguise for a growing belly.

Unfortunately, time has faded my memory as to the moral of the play, but times spent in my bunny costume have stayed vivid in my memory.

And let me just add, when I wore that bunny suit, I felt emboldened.

After a performance at Redwood Elementary School, I was on my way back home when I was nabbed by police.

I think I may have been going a tad bit over the speed limit, so I pulled over to wait for the officer.

I was in a panic thinking I was going to get a ticket, and once he was at my window, I knew he was going to wonder what the heck a grown woman was doing dressed up like a rabbit.

Yes, I was still wearing my furry little costume, and my face was covered with stage makeup including a pink nose and whiskers.

Then all of the sudden it hit me. I was in a bunny costume, so when he finally made it to my car, I could not help myself from saying, “Officer I am so sorry, but I am late for a very important date.”

Was I tempting fate with this little piece of “Terri humor?”

Yes, but what else was I supposed to do?

Thankfully, the policeman was kind and let me, I mean the rabbit, off with a warning.

I have always wondered if he told his buddies at the station about the deranged woman in a bunny suit, and if he did, would they have even believed him?

I pulled that rabbit suit out years later for my middle daughter’s birthday, which falls near Easter.

I thought it would be cute if I helped celebrate her day by dressing up in the bunny costume.

Did I mention I put it on before she left for her first date?

She was elated that her beau was able to see how crazy her mother can act. NOT!

Last year, the rabbit costume came out again.

My grandchildren were over and I thought how fun it would be if the Easter bunny showed up in person for them.

My oldest granddaughter thought it was grand and loved all over me.

The oldest grandson was not. People dressed up in animal costumes frighten him.

As of today, I have no plans of pulling out the rabbit costume, but don’t think for one minute if an opportunity presents itself in the future that I won’t zip it back on.

Hoppy Easter!

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.