Mardi Gras
by Rosalind Foley on 02/20/12
It's Carnival season where I live. Barricades line the streets of the parade routes, protecting eager children and tipsy revelers from getting trampled by truck-drawn floats and high stepping bands. Bright colored beads dangle from power lines and tree branches, mis-thrown by masked float riders.
Soon after tomorrow's festivities the social organizations called Krewes will choose themes for next year's floats and grand formal balls that are the elaborately staged and costumed climax of their year. Themes might come from Broadway hits, cartoons, myths, famous books, movies, Mother Goose, etc. Notice that for all the glamour, all the glitter, all the cries of "Throw me something, Mister", the whole giddy spectacle begins with words.
As I said, words matter.
