Mardi Gras awakening

Everywhere you go these days, you hear the pounding of bass drums and blaring horns. Marching bands are all practicing for their big debut.

I was driving home at noon when I was forced to detour after spotting police cars ahead. It wasn't an accident or a robbery, but some kind of practice run for the Thoth parade. Thoth doesn't actually roll until Sunday the 19th, but krewe members were already dressed in their colorful costumes, perhaps just trying out the float or moving it to a better logistical location.

You could see they were already hyped since they waved even as they rolled down Annunciation Street between the garbage cans.

I remember as a student, years ago, being lured from the library by tempters who swore, "Nobody studies before Mardi Gras." A few years later, an annoyed businessman who was prevented from getting a ride to the airport because a parade was in his way, asked me - "How do you get anything done here?"

Good question! We just try to work around it and enjoy the disruptions.