Ride On, Right On

I rode in the Eve parade in 2001. I had to be helped off the top deck when it ended and I wound up going to the ER the next day for an IV because I was so dehydrated from throwing up all night. Fun stuff.

Let me explain for anyone reading this not from New Orleans, what riding on a float entails. There’s the lead up of parties sprinkled throughout the year, wine filled lunches mostly, or cocktail get- togethers where you hot glue sequins or beads on a hat or a dress or a shoe. Next, is purchasing parade throws, and you most certainly reach for a drink afterwards to soothe your conscience over the thousands of dollars you just spent on plastic trinkets. Then there is the formal ball, which, hey, it’s a ball. Cheers! Finally, it’s the day of the parade, starting as early as 9am with Bloody Marys and Mimosas at the captain’s house. This is followed by loading the float with aforementioned throws and scarfing down a sandwich with some beer. Afterwards is a quick break where you can go home and freshen up (if you can drive). And lastly, there is the rolling of the parade, ranging from four to six hours. For this you either have an onboard ice chest filled with Mich Ultra, or a giant insulated cup for your lemonade and Titos - or both. You can see where one might have too much to drink.

This year was my first sober Mardi Gras. I’ve gone to five parades so far and although it’s not the Defcon 5 level of revelry, it is still a great time. It might not be the same “fun” as I am conditioned to define as “fun,” but there is a sense of ease in my body. I don’t have to have a plan such as: “I’ll have ‘x’ amount drinks before 2pm, allowing for three hours to sober up before driving home at 5pm. I don’t have to stress about blowing said plan, or not being completely competent for the kids in my charge, or worrying about being hungover the next day. Looking around this weekend, I noticed there were several other people not drinking, maybe about a fourth of the crowd. This is refreshing news to me. Raised in NOLA I honestly didn’t know that was an option. (Not that I would have taken it, but knowing not everyone was getting drunk might have given me pause).

I also noticed how completely wasted so many people were. And here is the thing about being wasted. You are missing it. At Tucks, one of the biggest day parades, I would guess from the wobbly looks of them, at least half of the riders won’t remember riding. The couple passed out in the bushes with plates of crawfish on their chest are definitely not remembering the day. And the college kids with a baggie of hootch and a sign that says “moms drink for free,” might remember what happened, but might want to forget.

It’s hard when you have grown up going to this crazy street party every year. My brain wrestles with cognitive dissonance. Mardi Gras is a thrilling and colorful celebration of life and community. It’s also a gross excuse to litter our city with trash and vomit. I am hopeful that I can hold on to the celebration, but move away from the debauchery. Is it possible for Mardi Gras to be Mardi Gras without drunkenness at its heart? Maybe not, but for me it will have to, because I am over falling off floats, passing out on the grass, or doing shots with random people.

Remember though, I’m 50 now, and my drunkenness has been way more subtle for a while. It’s a little easier for me to put it all behind me, than, say, the 28-year -old that rode in the Eve parade all those years ago. The thing is, nobody told her she could stop. Even her mom just said, “that wasn’t too smart, but I love you.” Everybody else either laughed the episode off, or handed her a hair-of-the-dog drink because there was another week of Mardi Gras celebration to enjoy. If anyone thought it might be alcohol abuse, they kept it to themselves, maybe to cope with their own usage questions, or maybe just to not get involved. Don’t get me wrong, this girl - I mean ME (seriously) - has always driven her own train and I take complete responsibility. It’s just that I never considered an alcohol-free-life an option.

So here I am, writing to anyone who might need to hear it. I know what you are doing. I know it hurts. I know you can stop. And I know sobriety offers relief. In stopping drinking, a whole new world of revelry is available - one where you don’t have to hurt yourself. Maybe it’s only "Defcon 3 fun," but that’s okay because you get to avoid the war in your psyche brought on with too much “fun.” Mardi Gras is what you make it, and the celebration is not over when you put down the drink. It’s actually just beginning.