Those Crazy Cajuns

Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighborhoods, and our joy of living. All at once. — Chris Rose

It was Saturday shortly after lunchtime.  Tricia and I have a tradition on weekends in which we'll put a pot of strong coffee on and sit outside and visit.  It was a perfect day to do so.  We took a break from burning a big pile of sticks in the pasture and sat on a concrete bench under the live oak tree to enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation.

It is nice to live in the country.  However, we looked north toward the blacktop road and saw... (gasp) a traffic jam!  What in the devil is going on?

Traffic Jam

A Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's cruiser turned down the road in front of our house.  Suddenly, loud music filled the air...

Tricia turned to me and said, "We didn't have to go to the parade.  The parade came to us."  We aren't big "Mardi Gras People."  A little too crazy for us.  We sat and waved at the revelers as they passed.  They were having a good time.  The floats were interesting and creative.  This one had Spanish Moss draping the sides along with palmetto leaves and a cabin on the back with purple, green, and gold flags flying.

This one was a simpler one.  American Flags and the Louisiana Flag waved proudly alongside the ubiquitous Port-A-Potty anchoring the float.

Revelers showing their Tiger Spirit...

Purple, Green and Gold draping hung from this float with an Acadiana Flag bringing up the rear.

This float was made with tin from an old barn with the phrase, "Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler!" on the side. (Let the Good Times Roll).  It looked like they were doing just that.

Some krewes had purchased old school buses and "tricked them out."  This one seemed to be almost dragging the ground in the back.  Perhaps their Port-a-Potty was full?

This float had "Maison des Cooyon Kajans" emblazoned on the side.  House of Crazy Cajuns!

This one was the Krewe De Bayou and their float looked like a house on the bayou.

The whole parade probably had about 20 floats.  Nothing fancy.  All homemade.  One observation that we saw was that the majority of the floats had Trump flags proudly flying.  I think Trump pretty much has the Cajun demographic firmly in his corner.

Finally, the last float passed by and the loud music faded into the quiet countryside.  We finished our coffee and walked out to check the mail.  I bent over and picked up some purple beads on my way back in.  Those crazy Cajuns.