Is Easter a state of mind or is it Easter only if the weather is sunny and green?

Is vacation a vacation even if the weather doesn't cooperate?

On this April Sunday morning, the answers are yes to the first query and yes to the second.

So it may be a little cool today for your church going and brunching and Masters watching and holiday dinnering.

The weather does not affect whether it's Easter or not.

Ten days ago, we were in Mesquite, Nev., where it was supposed to be sunny and gorgeous.

The first indication I had that something might be amiss was waking to a wholly unfamiliar sound in the middle of the night. Upon further inspection, it was the fronds of the palm trees rustling in the wind. It sounded like the bunch of pompons in Mouse the Daughter's room being shaken all at once.

They make a totally different sound than does the leafy tree in the backyard at home when the wind blows.

But, by golly, tee times had been reserved - and in several instances paid for in advance - yikes! - so there we were.

OK, it wasn't cold compared to 14 inches of snow and icy winds back home, but it was cold when you're dressed for and expecting 80. Of course, the new golf threads couldn't be sacrificed for the weather, and besides I had no socks, and the only long pants I had were jeans, which are totally not acceptable at these shmansy courses.

As we drove up to the Palms Golf Club for our mid-morning tee time, the marshal greeted us on the surprisingly empty driveway.

"Geez," he hollered. "The only guys playing today are from Wyoming."

Well, duh, that's because we're sort of used to playing in 50 mile-per-hour winds.

Turns out the foursome right in front of us was all from Wyoming.

They waited on 18 for us to play in with them and the friend wowed them with one of his best holes of the day.

"If we'd have known you play like that, we wouldn't have invited you," they joked.

So then we talked about the Cowgirls, who by then hadn't even played in the Final Four yet.

Ultimately, that weather was better than the final two days we played in.

The last day was at a very new course with dirt work being done for hundreds and hundreds of new home sites.

Literally, there were dirt drifts in the cart path, much like the drifts of snow waiting for us when we got home. I think all golf carts should come with seatbelts and zippered plastic raincoats like the marshals get.

On some corners, the dirt sandblasted our faces similarly to motorcycling in the wind.

I told somebody it was too windy to go in the hot tub and I know they thought I was nuts. But the spray caused by the wind was more like facing a shower nozzle than soaking in hot water.

We met a couple there from Fort Morgan, Colo. He said he gave up a job offer in Casper because he heard the wind blew a lot. We assured him that it was a fabulous place to live - wind and all.

So it was a great vacation.

Looking at the dessert bar at the buffets made me appreciate today even more.

I've been dreaming about the soft ice cream machine, and usually, I don't even like soft ice cream.

I'm not any stronger than I was 47 days ago.

But I'm more appreciative of what sacrifice really means.

And I'm strongly considering the boss's suggestion to give up water next year.

Here's hoping today is full of peace and fun for you and yours.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@casperstartribune.net.