This is the very last time we’ll mention Mardi Gras – of course Fat Tuesday is tomorrow….and the French Quarter closes down the partying tomorrow night.
On Saturday morning, we dropped off Lisa & Ian’s wedding gift – a bayou painting Susi completed (check Susi’s Paintings to the right). Lisa got a bit of a shock when she opened the door to find Uncle Jerry and his two friends, Salamander and Jay in parade watching attire – ready to haul us off to the first parade of the day.
Little did Dave & Susi know that the more outrageous one dresses to watch the parade, the more people give you stuff. During the 2 parades we attended, people would ask Jerry if he would pose with them for a picture. 
Many parade watchers would give him their pink and purple beads – some would run across the street between bands and floats to “decorate” him.
We attended the Isis and Tuck parades, down St. Charles, which are both very family oriented. Each lasted about 1 1/2 hours and had as many youth bands as fantastic floats. By this time, Susi had become somewhat of a bead snob – she only kept about 15 from the whole day! She discovered the nifty trick of giving beads back to the marching band kids/parents as they passed by – or fellow parade watchers. But Salamander and Jay worked hard for their loot!
Click for video
Mardi Gras parades are fantastic for dedicated people watchers – we quickly become best friends with our neighbors as we exchange or give away beads. Here’s a video of just one float (of hundreds) – check out how much stuff is flying through the air while people begging for the “throws”: the parades definitely are not environmentally friendly but they sure as heck are fun!
My favorite video is of the Bezaire Brothers dancing in the street…
Click for video
Loved looking at your paintings. You do good work. Thanks for the pictures of Jerry especially
the dancing.
Love, Mom
Unfortunately, our trips into NO usually are with other people, with a schedule of things to do, so I haven’t even taken my paints. Perhaps, as Sue departs next week for home, and Dave & Terry are in the crunch point of getting the IT stuff up and running – I can make a Saturday trip on my own to paint…
love the mardi gras outfits!! Dad, your dance skillz (yes, with a z) continue to amaze.
Mom – I looked through your paintings; your work looks beautiful. Are you going to get a chance to paint some of the french quarter of NOLA while you’re down there? I remember being amazing by the vibrancy of the colors of the buildings in tandem with all of the flora and fauna. Not to mention the people.
Miss you guys!!
FOLLIES BEZAIRE’S