Lynda Barry has a comic that pokes fun at the ubiquitous use of paper plates as craft fodder for every possible holiday.

That particular Ernie Pook's Comeek really hit me where I lived. I too have known the humiliation of the paper plate Easter bonnet.

This is a picture of my preschool class.

We lived in a 60s version of a condo complex. These weren't real teachers. Residents volunteered as preschool teachers.

These were mostly tranquilized housewives with too much time on their hands. And when you're tranquilized, there is nothing better than arts and crafts. So for the most part it turned out to be a pretty good match. I think that "teacher" on the right is smoking a Pall Mall.

So here are my Easter memories, captured in the eyes of humiliated children staring bravely into the sun, posing in lovely paper finery. The boys had it worse, with their faces completely encircled by a paper plate. I guess no one brought bobby pins or could figure out a less embarassing way to attach ears.

How useful is that "Don't play on landscaped areas" sign in the background when none of the kids could read yet? Maybe that sign was for the hippies. And if you're wondering which kid I am, last one on the left, 2nd row - my face conveniently covered up by another kid's bunny ear. The humiliation never stops.

Photo by Mom