Fat Tuesday Flashback!

I love walks down Memory Lane. Don't you?

So today, I'd like to take you way back. Back to when I was fresh out of college and one of my bestest friends, N, and I decided we were going to go to Mardi Gras.

Because, what else do you do when you're young and crazy and fresh out of college?

Right.

So we booked our flight, and N's friend's family owned a gorgeous house in the French Quarter that we could use. Every year, they had a whole bunch of people stay, but we were totally VIP and got a bedroom, while the other poor saps had to fight for space on the couches and the wraparound porch.

Haha, poor saps. Haha.

There was a horrible moment, when there was some kind of airport strike or pilot strike and flights were being canceled right and left. And then somehow, by some miracle, N got us on some plane. And I remember throwing things in a suitcase and ripping to the airport, and we were *those people*, who were tearing pellmell through the terminal, bags bouncing haphazardly behind us, boarding passes flapping in the breeze.

This was clearly back before 9/11, when they would let you squeeze on to the plane just as the door was being closed, flushed from your sprint, and possibly with a dislocated shoulder from hauling oversized luggage.

And so we arrived. I remember getting picked up in a 2 door hatchback by N's friend, and riding along with open containers (because it was legal in Louisiana) and the most amazingly delicious shrimp po' boys.

I remember the gorgeous house, and the people everywhere.

Now, this is really reaching back. Yes. More than a decade ago. So I'm spotty on details.

I remember it was freezing out. And the first night I drank so much beer that I couldn't touch the stuff the rest of the time, because everything smelled of stale hops.

I remember traveling with a house load of people, all squeezed into some ginormous bus/conversion van type of deal, as we went from parade to parade. Thank the good lord for rum.

I remember that the crowds on Bourbon Street were so dense that if you stepped off the curb, it took a few minutes before your feet actually hit the ground. You were literally carried along by a crush of people. Which was probably preferable to actually walking on the ground, because it was sticky with a mash of booze and beer and God only knows what else.

I remember going to this one bar that served this one shot that tasted like Sweet Tarts. But they would only serve you one because it was just that strong. And it was really good, but I have no idea what it was called.

I remember going to a parade in Houma and we had to stop at a drive-through Bloody Mary place. They were the best Bloody Mary's in the history of the world. True story.

I remember beignets and chicory at Cafe du Monde at 4am. Heaven. And the Neville Brothers at House of Blues on Valentine's Day.

I remember that no one was flashing, because it was just that cold. But we all got beads anyway.

I dug out my photo album today, since MacGyver was on the computer with the scanner, I took pictures of my old pictures to share with you.

This photo is at some kind of Crawfish Festival. Jersey Girls don't know anything about crawfish, so I had to get a lesson from a local.

Recognize that face? That's Raw Poultry Face. Apparently, it also applies to crawfish.



I was really brave. I sucked the head. They said I had to. I have no regrets.



And this lovely group shot was taken in Houma. See that guy laying on the ground with the crawfish bag full of beads? Yeah, I got hit with that. Towards the end of the parade, the people on the floats were just tossing things willy nilly and I got knocked flat out. That was *my* bag. That thing got hauled around pretty much right until we had to go to the airport when I realized there was absolutely no point in carrying about 20lbs of plastic beads and had to consolidate.

It was definitely a highlight of my life.



So thanks for joining me on this little trip to the past. It was an amazing trip, and we had such a blast.

Happy Fat Tuesday to all, and to all a good night!