As April arrives and Peter Cottontail comes hippity-hopping down the bunny trail, it’s the perfect time for a heartwarming rabbit story. And, I happen to have a real-life one. Recently, while I was heading to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, I noticed several people gathered around a parked car, trying to coax a tiny animal from underneath it. Curious, I walked closer and thought it was a baby rabbit. One woman happened to have some lettuce in her trunk and used it to tempt the bunny out. Another woman grabbed a box, and when the rabbit finally ventured out for the snack, she gently scooped it up inside.

After we caught the rabbit, we all looked at each other and wondered what we should do with it. I immediately thought of my friend Natalee, who works with 4-H students to raise rabbits for the fair. I called her, and she said I could bring the rabbit to her house so she could help us find it a home. After I sent her a picture, she said it wasn’t a baby, but a Dwarf Hoto. That meant it was an adult, just about half the size of a typical full-grown rabbit breed.

When we arrived at Natalee’s house, we learned the rabbit was a girl. My daughter named her C.C. because she looked like Cookies and Cream ice cream. The bunny was incredibly friendly and seemed happy to see some rabbit friends. Natalee fed her, cleaned her up, and within a few days found her a loving forever home. It was a very happy ending for this sweet little bunny.

One of my favorite events in Bakersfield takes place every April—the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference (BWBC). This year’s chairwoman is featured as our Happy Mama. In Callie Collins’ article, “Hello, Happy (Awakened) Mama: Lizette Gomez,” she highlights Gomez’s insight and the magic that happens each year when women come together with a shared passion. As the founder and CEO of Cazador Consulting Group and a mother of two adult sons, Gomez also shares her parenting PSAs on page 14.

In this month’s Humor at Home, Julie Willis explores how couples can experience the same situation yet respond to it in completely different ways. In her article, “Love, Laughter, and a Missing Cap,” on page 20, she shares a moment in a messy kitchen in which she focuses on the bigger tasks that need to be done, while her husband zeroes in on the smaller details, such as a misplaced bottle cap. Relationships can be funny, and sometimes all you can do is laugh when things don’t quite make sense. Somehow, those differences are exactly what make it work.

As flowers bloom this spring, you may also notice vibrant murals around town. In the article, “Eastchester: One Word, An Artful Direction,” on page 30, Mary Anne Radmacher of the Arts Council of Kern highlights a mural spanning a building on “O” Street between 19th and 20th Streets, featuring the word “Eastchester.” Muralists Brandon Thompson and Deidre Hathor bring the piece to life by weaving stories into each letter, which honors the neighborhood’s past while reflecting its promise for the future.

With the days getting longer and temperatures rising, whether you’re searching for a lost bottle cap or admiring a beautiful mural, take a moment to enjoy the season and appreciate the details around you. You never know because you might even find a bunny waiting for your help.

Happy Easter!!!