Mardi Gras means fun for all ages

I love Mardi Gras. Twenty minutes after the parade, the beads I scream my head off to catch have absolutely no value to me but the excitement is trying to nab as many throws as I can.


Last year, I attended the parade with my pal L.J. and her two nephews John Collier and Cayden. The boys are adorable, even though in the picture above they don't look nearly as excited as us to be at the parade. We held them in the air as floats passed and helped them grab as many toys and beads as we could. It was fun watching them have such a great time. It reminded me of when my family used to pack up and head out to the parade when we were kids.

This year, I covered the parade for the paper. I walked along the parade route and chatted with people about why they loved Mardi Gras in northwest Louisiana. After I'd done a lot of my interviews, I decided I would enjoy a bit of the parade with my friends. I met up with my best friend Kate and several others along the parade route and at the end of the parade I looked like Mr. T.

As one parade marcher passed me, dancing with his festive umbrella, he made his way over to our side of the street to put some beads around my neck and give me a kiss on the cheek. My friends went wild. It was a funny moment, only made more amusing by my friend Melissa's comment, "Oh and he gave you pearls."

Our friend Mark Crawford rode on the "M.A.S.H." float and tossed Kate and I tons of beads and two Mardi Gras dolls, which we're pictured with below. I have a great time at Mardi Gras each year. It always brings out the kid in me.