Mardi Gras Time

I love this time of year in New Orleans and I miss it terribly. The funny thing is that the last year I lived in New Orleans I didn't attend one parade! I guess it's easy to take things for granted when they are available all the time. Mardi Gras for my family was not a time to party in the French Quarter, in fact, for most New Orleanians, yes that's a word, Mardi Gras does not involve the French Quarter, that's just what they show on T.V. For us it was a time to get together with friends and enjoy fellowship. My home church, First Baptist New Orleans was located on the corner of St. Charles and Napoleon, a hot spot for parade watching, and the church would open its doors on Mardi Gras Day and members would come into the fellowship hall with their food and we had the best time running around catching beads and goofing off with friends. It was just a great time. Even as an adult when I lived in the apartments located on that corner I had friends over and we played all day.

Of course nothing is the same now. Friends have married and moved away, although there are some still there along with some family, including my mother and brother. But, the apartments I lived in have been torn down, and the church has relocated. Katrina destroyed many things in the city but the spirit of Mardi Gras and many other great things in that wonderful fishbowl remain constant, as do my memories of growing up in one of the best places on earth, and I'm lucky to be able to go back and visit every year during spring break. But this weekend, when everything comes to a head for the Mardi Gras season which will end on Fat Tuesday, I will be there in spirit remembering a time that has long passed but still remains in my mind like it was yesterday.

Happy Mardi Gras to all my New Orleans friends, have fun, be safe, and le bon temps roule!!!!