I had just returned from a hospital visit to find Lionboy with beads! These were not last year's leftovers, but a new stash.
He and Mrs. Hollywood had just been to the Pawty Gras parade here in Old Gretna (which is a parade in which people dress up their pets and march down the street tossing beads, treats, and stuffed toys to everyone). For the past two years, the parade has gone by the Farmer's Market one block from our home - and so they went to check it out.
But, surprise, the parade route was also to pass right by our house. It was coming by just as I got home. So, we were treated to another round of the festivities - dogs dressed up in skirts, masks, and costumes, some dyed in different colors, all very friendly and excited - golden retrievers, boxers, dachshunds, and even a handicapped collie in a wagon - with tails wagging and eager to run to the side of the road for a pat.
Their humans were dressed up too, as music played, decorated umbrellas were twirled, and the two-legged critters showered us with goodies. We got tons of loot - beads, candy, cups, beads, toys, stuffed animals, and did I say beads? This being the last weekend before Mardi Gras, the whole region is festive, happy, friendly, and enjoying our newly-arrived warm weather (it was nearly seventy degrees). Tourism seems to be way up - which is great for our economy. Today is a perfect day for parades and frivolity.
After the parade, we cleaned our part of the street of all debris, scooped up even more candy, draped beads on our fence, and sat on the porch swing as the St. Joseph's church bells rang out Ave Verum Corpus and Panis Angelicus.
3 comments:
We just got a Copeland's in Broken Arrow a month or two back, and so we went there to eat last Friday. The have the place all gussied up in purple and gold, and they were giving beads out to anyone who wanted them. I was like, it doesn't count unless you catch the beads. The wife from the couple we were with said, don't you have to show them your breasts to get beads, or something??
SIGH. Oh, the ignorance. (Then again, people in Louisiana probably think, along with the rest of the world, that in Oklahoma we spend most of our time rolling around in covered wagons and alternately shooting Indians or smoking peace pipes.)
(By the way, for anyone who may be reading this who has not been to Oklahoma, although we do have a lot of Indians still around, neither they nor we... um... OK, I'll say "palefaces" for you Lone Ranger fans... roll around in covered wagons nor habitually shoot each other. We have automobiles. So there.)
Anyway, as a Louisiana born and raised boy, I was shocked to learn that Copeland's had all kinds of desserts, even some apparently specifically for the Mardi Gras season, but no King Cake. What the HECK is THAT all about???
The wife from the couple we were with said, don't you have to show them your breasts to get beads, or something??
Mike:
I've heard that too. But it never works for me.
SIGH. Oh, the ignorance. (Then again, people in Louisiana probably think, along with the rest of the world, that in Oklahoma we spend most of our time rolling around in covered wagons and alternately shooting Indians or smoking peace pipes.)
The covered wagons have become SUVs, you now have Indians from half a world away running motels, but I think some folks are still hitting the peace pipes. Plus ca change...
Anyway, as a Louisiana born and raised boy, I was shocked to learn that Copeland's had all kinds of desserts, even some apparently specifically for the Mardi Gras season, but no King Cake. What the HECK is THAT all about???
That is odd. The local Walmart has towers of King Cakes - especially since the Carnival season is so short this year. Oh well, I hope your Copeland's has some bread pudding. If nothing else, you can follow up with that after a shrimp po boy and a bowl of gumbo.
If you get homesick, Mike, you know where I live! The West Bank parades roll right past my church. There are still two more days of Carnival. Something tells me Mikey would have a real blast.
I wish we could convince cousin Kevin to re-open Da Boat. Now THAT was some fine eatin' that could well have given Copeland a run for his money around here.
You know, I just found out from a coworker something that I seem to remember having heard before but forgot... Merritt's Bakery, which is right around the corner from Don's house, has King Cake. We ought to go get one and crash his house for election results... our Presidential primaries are Tuesday.
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