The Mardi Gras of Last Week

A week ago today we revelled in the streets of New Orleans, La (NOLA.)  The partying was the culmination of many prior days of parties, parades and foolery.  Rising before the sun we put on the masks we finished the night before and waited for the cab to take us down town while filling our belly with nurishment.  The cab dropped us at he corner of two now forgotten streets while we balked at the calm of the city.  We arrived 2 hours early to the St. Anne's Parade bringing the only color and life to the sleeping streets.  Although we were very early for the parade, we were only slightly early for the bar.  The manager at the corner bar, Bud Rips, called the bar tender upon a request from the truly, truly, outrageous Gem.  Let me introduce to you the crew, Gem, an 80's cartoon rockstar, Coco the gorilla, the Spirit of 

Mardi Gras, and myself, Boy Titty.  We all entered the bar fifteen mintute after our arrival the street and ordered our first drink of the day, 3 bloody maries and a screwdriver.  The bar tender gave us money for the juke box and the party started.  Yes indeed the party got off to a great start.  Other revelers started arriving to the bar to begin the excesses of the Fat Tuesday.  By 8:45 you could see costumed people brightening up the streets in every direction.  Other friends of ours started arriving and by 9:30 we were making our way down the street in the direction of the critical mass of revelers.  People had great costumes and loved to share their libations.  We rounded a corner into a street choked with colorful bodies and the sound of marching drums setting the tone.  The potions I had quaffed at Bud Rips began to send me high as a kite, and I left the crew for another bunch of hooligans.  The Skeleton and Zebra were having a riot on the same street and they shared their drink with me!  I

 was intrigued by a house party happening near the middle of the dancing street mob.  Skeleton and I made our way to the open house but separated along the way and I ended up wandering through the garden in back amongst fabulous characters.  The garden unfirled straight back with waterways and sculpture still amid the strolling and dancing revelers.  The people were from all over the country gathered in for the multi-day party.  I met a singing elvis robot, and it sang for some beads.  Wandering back to the 

street I began marching with the parade finally under way at who knows what time.  I fell in line with Skeleton and Zebra as they marched up trailing the brass band.  So went my day with many other grand adventures in the silly and absurd.  I wound down at about 7:00 pm.  Other friends came to join the group and some left in the afternoon to return to the realm of  normality (as far as is possible.)  It was great to share this party with everyone.  I want you all to remember that Gem is outrageous, truly, truly, outrageous!