Happy Mardi Gras, y'all!

Today, in New Orleans, Mardi Gras rushes to its conclusion as thousands of people take their clothes off and either simulate or actually have sex in public in the French Quarter. There are many Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. They don't all revolve around the French Quarter madness. Some are more family based with small kids. Some are more old fashioned.

Most people have this notion that Mardi Gras exists only for one day, or perhaps the weekend before, and that's it, just a bacchanalia. But that's not true.

Mardi Gras begins on the Twelfth Night of Christmas in New Orleans with the Krewe of the Twelfth Night as they "parade" in a street car up St. Charles Avenue. And from then on, it gets serious and most outsiders have no idea.

I'm talking about balls. White tie and tails at least twice a week during the season. Black tie begins to feel like dressed down. Balls where women actually wear ball gowns and gloves and where the after parties are great, even if the majority of them are at the New Orleans Country Club or Yacht Club. I used to go to way too many of these things, usually with a Committee Man Invitation, which meant I wasn't a spectator up in the balcony of the ball and I wasn't masked for the ball in the Krewe (although I was a member of one Krewe) but I could dance after the first couple of songs and I could bring dates. I miss the balls.

I also miss the house parties. Picture these glorious ante bellum houses thrown open with bars and food and you would wander, in the Garden District, up and down St. Charles, ducking into various parties, eating a little, visiting a little, drinking a little, borrowing a bathroom (yay!), and visiting some more. And drinking some more. And maybe just a little bit more after that. The hosts were always gregarious and hospitable and you always knew them or the people you were with had known them for years. It was so comfortable and such a tremendous way to see Mardi Gras. Maybe the best way.

I also miss the Marching Krewes. They used to march from bar to bar Uptown where we lived. And there was a decrepit little bar across from our house where I think that the average age of the patrons may have been deceased or just shy of it. And the marchers used to come on by all morning. It was really very friendly.

Of course, actually, a lot of natives fled the City and today are probably on the beach in Florida or skiing in Colorado.

So, in honor of Mardi Gras, I gotta ask, as I used to do when I rode the floats myself, and women would ask for the really nice beads:

Hey! Show me your breasts!!!

And someone please get me a Hurricane. Damn, I miss New Orleans.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 09:07 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 (.)(.) There's yer boobies. I'm going to be going to new Orleans next month, any must sees??

Posted by: Holly at February 08, 2005 09:28 AM (Wkg+N)

2 Thanks, Holly! I will send you my list of things to do, see and eat later today or tomorrow!

Posted by: RP at February 08, 2005 09:55 AM (LlPKh)

3 I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

Posted by: C at February 08, 2005 08:04 PM (vhWf1)

4 Their here, can't you see them?? If not , get some glasses. One of my many fond memories of Nawlins' was having a szarac(only hard whiskey I care to drink) in the Court of the Three Sisters while needlepointing. Then listening to Banu Gibson. The best!!

Posted by: Azalea at February 08, 2005 10:02 PM (hRxUm)

5 "C" said what I was gonna say. *snicker* I guess you really DO know what it means to miss New Orleans. (You KNEW someone was gonna say it.) The way you describe it, I can see the charm. The bacchanalia in the streets I ain't so sure I'd be comfortable in. No, I'm damned sure I wouldn't like it. I'm long past the getting drunk for getting drunk's sake stage and I am monumentally nervous in crowds. Especially drunken hordes.

Posted by: Margi at February 09, 2005 01:38 AM (zalxZ)

6 I miss New Orleans, too, and I've never been...

Posted by: Jester at February 09, 2005 04:16 AM (yS8Mo)

7 I've been to New Orleans several times. My ex-employer had its annual bash for customers there several years running. Each year, a few female employees would be summarily dismissed for "disrobing in public", as the company phrased it. One of my fondest memories is the shrubs growing out of the tops of brick building walls. It was hard to find anything to look at there that wasn't picturesque. I remember an early visit where, having gotten off the plane on a Sunday afternoon and not on duty until the next day, I went down to the hotel bar. I knew the South and wondered if there was any Sunday restriction on what I could buy. "What?" the bartender asked. "This is New Orleans. Anything you want, any day, any time of day." He served up a very good bourbon and soda. Even the mid-range bourbon somehow tasted better in New Orleans. Now I realize I've got to get back there!

Posted by: John Bruce at February 09, 2005 12:09 PM (DjxFm)

8 Well, Margi and C, this is how it works, you show me yours and I give you beads. Not just any beads, mind you, but the really nice ones, the ones we used to refer to as titty beads. Azalea, I loved the Court of the Two Sisters for brunch. You ought to try the brandy milk punch next time. Jester, you would love New Orleans. Just love it. John, I also feel like it has been too long. There is just something about the place that causes women to take off their clothes in public!

Posted by: RP at February 09, 2005 01:30 PM (LlPKh)

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For a number of reasons, none of which I have time to go into here, I have spent some precious minutes today reading Congressional Medal of Honor citations. These are extraordinary documents describing extraordinary Americans performing extraordinary deeds. I could never imagine myself, under the circumstances, performing as superlatively as these Americans have. The Medal of Honor is given to individual members of the United States armed forces who demonstrate conspicuous valor in action against an enemy force. The citations make for compelling reading and it is hard to tear yourself away from them, but they all have one thing in common: courage. Imagine, if you will, how you would have reacted if you were Navy Corpsman Donald E. Ballard:

BALLARD, DONALD E.

Rank and organization: Hospital Corpsman Second Class, U.S. Navy, Company M, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16 May 1968. Entered service at: Kansas City, Mo. Born: 5 December 1945, Kansas City, Mo. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HC2c. with Company M, in connection with operations against enemy aggressor forces. During the afternoon hours, Company M was moving to join the remainder of the 3d Battalion in Quang Tri Province. After treating and evacuating 2 heat casualties, HC2c. Ballard was returning to his platoon from the evacuation landing zone when the company was ambushed by a North Vietnamese Army unit employing automatic weapons and mortars, and sustained numerous casualties. Observing a wounded marine, HC2c. Ballard unhesitatingly moved across the fire swept terrain to the injured man and swiftly rendered medical assistance to his comrade. HC2c. Ballard then directed 4 marines to carry the casualty to a position of relative safety. As the 4 men prepared to move the wounded marine, an enemy soldier suddenly left his concealed position and, after hurling a hand grenade which landed near the casualty, commenced firing upon the small group of men. Instantly shouting a warning to the marines, HC2c. Ballard fearlessly threw himself upon the lethal explosive device to protect his comrades from the deadly blast. When the grenade failed to detonate, he calmly arose from his dangerous position and resolutely continued his determined efforts in treating other marine casualties. HC2c. Ballard's heroic actions and selfless concern for the welfare of his companions served to inspire all who observed him and prevented possible injury or death to his fellow marines. His courage, daring initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Extraordinary, isn't it?

One problem with reading these is that you will be struck by how many of these men bear an asterisk next to their name, indicating that the award of posthumous.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 12:49 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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