Today was the big day and it was proof why I don’t do Mardi Gras anymore. I could barely take the crowds of a 4 year old Mardi Gras, much less the real thing.
Yesterday, we met up with our parade partner and Amber’s bestest friend in the whole world to put the finishing touches on their float. I would love to show you a picture, but all I have are ones with the kids in it. While I don’t mind putting my kids on the Internet, I will not put someone else’s child out there without permission. So, you will have to deal with my description. The floats were to be made on a wagon and an 8th grader would pull the floats in the parade. There were dimensions and special instructions, but I didn’t pay attention and left it up to the other mom to take care of all that. The wagon was made to look like a pirogue complete with gator paddling and raccoon leading the way. We had lights and music, but no one could tell unless you were right in front of the thing.
I didn’t have much to do with the float, because Amber’s friend’s mom took the lead, which I was more than happy to oblige. When I saw the float I thought this is amazing and we will be the best of the parade. Um, not quite. When we delivered our masterpiece to the gym, last night, I was floored by the work “the kids” put into their floats. Hell, some of them looked like Blaine Kern himself made them. We left our little pirogue in it’s spot in the gym and hoped the girls had fun throwing stuff at their schoolmates. Sadly, they didn’t win a prize. I don’t think they cared as Amber rush to tell me that she had candy before the parade started.
This morning was the play. A real Mardi Gras ball. It was a combination of any and all Mardi Gras traditions: King and Queen of Carnival, King and Queen Zulu, their courts, the governor paid a visit, Zydeco dancers, talk of Holy Trinity, and Mardi Gras Indians. Imagine a theater full of 4 year olds in gowns and the boys in tights performing what the adults do every year for Mardi Gras. They danced and ruled over their subjects. I must say I was very impressed by it all.
Doesn’t Amber look cute in her costume.
The parade was much like you would see on any street in Jefferson or Orleans Parish. The crowd was huge and hungry for beads. The floats started off late and rolled to the Mardi Gras beat. The krewe members threw beads, cups, and trinkets to friends, family and strangers alike. If you didn’t know any better you would think you were at a real Mardi Gras parade. What am I saying, it was a real Mardi Gras parade.
If you get the local paper, look in the Westbank section to see what I am talking about. If you don’t, then you will just have to sit and suffer in your town that is probably covered in snow. Maybe sometime you will make it down to New Orleans to experience the biggest party thrown every year just for the hell of it. We would love to have you.
Laissez les bon temps roule.
She is soooo cute!
Mardi Gras school-style sounds like sheer insanity, however. Glad you survived.