In only two weeks the quiet section of town that I live in will turn into a whirlwind of sirens, musical instruments, tractors and voices. It seems chaotic yet, with great anticipation, I count down the days until finding a parking spot in my neighborhood becomes a challenge.
Uptown New Orleans is a nice place to live (no matter what you might hear on the national news). Oak, magnolia, cypress and crepe myrtle trees line the streets creating the most wonderful sound when a breeze blows. It's a beautiful area of town and it remains a friendly community.
For two weeks each year people gather on sidewalks and neutral grounds to wait and watch while the city of New Orleans puts on the greatest free show on Earth. People flock to this area of town and those already here head to the parade route to meet their neighbors and others they might only see this time of year. It's a giant picnic that includes free prizes for attendance in the shape of gaudy beads and cheap stuffed animals. It's a community event that New Orleanians would put on even if not a single tourist showed up to share it with us.
It's things like these that I love about this town. There are problems here. We have crime and issues with our education system, but most of the people here are good. They like to laugh, dance and have a good time. They care about each other and about their city. Mardi Gras is our reward for dealing with all of the other crap the rest of the year. It's the most wonderful time of the year.
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Despite growing up in New Orleans I didn't start enjoying Mardi Gras as a float rider rather than just a spectator until a few years ago. More about that in the next few days.
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