Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Mardi Gras Parades

Living in the Panhandle of Florida is kind of like living in Alabama, Mississippi or Louisiana when it comes to Mardi Gras. I always thought Mardi Gras parades took place a few days preceding Ash Wednesday and only in southern Louisiana. They occur anytime, anyplace or anywhere and on a whim.
Mobile, Alabama is having their parade today. Lizzie and I are watching on TV, not because it's so wonderful but because the parade route is empty. The television announcers are doing their best to make it a spectulaganza performance. It's not often when TV cameras are shooting from the second story of a Hampton Inn motel. New Orleans doesn't have a monopoly on parades. There was one at a place called Baytowne Wharf in Miramar Beach,ten minutes from out condo, last Sunday. Baytowne is an outside mall. The way I see it the difference between a parade at Baytowne, Destin or other Florida communities and the one in New Orleans is the women who wear the beads in Florida are over age 70. The mind boggles and the body cringes at the thought.
Dothan, Alabama is located an hour or so north of us. They had the first parade and it was three weeks ago. I've decided that Mardi Gras is to the South what St. Patrick's day is to the Irish in the North; a never ending cycle of drinking and partying.
Then I realized I've been ahead of the curve for a long, long time. For me, every day is Fat Tuesday.

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