Mardi Gras

Since yesterday was a holiday, as I also mentioned it was the next to last day of Mardi Gras called Skinny Monday. That is the day that my town, Prichard, AL puts on their Mardi Gras parade. Ever since I moved back to the area, I have taken the girls to the parades. It got so, we was going on the regular and they would have a cookout sponsored by one of the barber shops and their families for the revelers; Sadly, they stopped that here, and we just go to the Prichard and Downtown Northside Association parades. Now folks, going from Prichard into Mobile is nothing. But mega cars going from Prichard into the Campground/Downtown Area of Mobile is another. I have raised concerns about this and it has gotten to the point that most folks skip one parade for another, or don't go or divert. Even with I-165 to help with that, things get pretty hectic; But this year, I was able to check out both parades. I have pictures set up on both my Facebook and Twitter pages. The Prichard Parade did a cool parade with their area clubs and associations. They also get the Alabama Black Mayors, who sponsored that morning's little known Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates forum at Prichard City Hall was on hand to get into the festivities as well. They come each year to Prichard and have their own float. now, here in Mobile, when you do Mardi Gras, folks with different organizations pool together to get on a float. that individual person also is responsible to get their own throws that are thrown at the particular parade, and that is when costs get high; For one, a person has to pay to get on the float, then pay for their own throws. Mardi Gras, folks is no cheap thrill. One float at the Downtown parade got a flat tire and they were taken out of the parade. Talk about ticked and heated. They paid about $100 to be there and about a dozen folks were on there and total of all throws there totalled ball park about $20,000 and were there at 8am just to be in the parade. So can't say I blame them for that. At the downtown parade, there was a guy from Colorado there who just got into the spirit. we split the throws but made sure he left with the lion's share. Had to be a good neighbor. this year though, I got a small bottle of vodka; I don't drink but know someone who'd love it; I begged for another but hey, that's not cheap. I also got a vial of gardenia home fragrance oil at the Prichard parade which would be a great addition to my stash at home. Throws given at Mardi Gras are beads(which can be further used to make crafts with or taken to Krispy Kreme on Wednesday to be exchanged for free donuts),food, usually moonpies, not my favorite treat at all; Little Debbies, ramen(hey, a lot of folks take that),cereal,chips,alcohol and teddy bears; now me,I don't mind a bear. not at all and I got four at the Downtown parades. Plus a good time is had by most and some be or on their way to being drunk.
A lot of folks don't know but Mobile IS the birthplace of Mardi Gras and it is celebrated from Pensacola, Florida to Houston,Texas. Mobile has had festivities dating back just about to the time it became a city in 1702. It died down, but after the Civil War, a man named Joe Cain revived it; The Sunday before Fat Tuesday, they do a big Joe Cain celebration complete with his many "widows" dressed in traditional black from head to toe.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Cain. It's worth the look at the widows procession because folks like to guess who is who. They sit and fuss on ole Joe.
Next years Mardi Gras is in March; It coincides with Ash Wednesday and Easter so the dates do change here. So if your ever in the neighborhood, check out Mobile's Mardi Gras. We'll treat you well.