Once upon a Mardi Gras

 

cj Sez:  The photo taken at a parade pretty much describes the craziness of Mardi Gras in Mobile…fun and chaos in the streets.

  I admit I’ve never been to a Mardi Gras parade—too peoply for me—but here’s my favorite Mardi Gras story from a few years ago.

  Once upon a Saturday morning, I booked the authors’ writing room at The Haunted Bookshop and was thrilled when I found a parking space just around the corner from the bookstore. 

  I spent almost two hours working on story outlines,  proud of myself for being quasi successful at outlining—I call myself a pathfinder when I write.

  Just before noon I thought, “Okay. Time to leave.” Instead I meandered around the shop. I left the Bookshop at 12:30, and, blink, when I turned the street corner, my minivan was gone. I’m thinking who in the world is desperate enough to steal a 10-year old minivan?

  A bit of investigation revealed that a Mardi Gras parade was scheduled to roll down that street at 2 p.m., and the parking spaces had to be cleared two hours before it began. I was thirty minutes late.

  I explained to a friendly, motorcycle police officer (looking handsome in his uniform, astride that Harley) that I had accidentally overstayed my welcome at the parking space and wondered if he knew where my van went. He said it had been towed to a temporary impound lot, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly where on the map/documents he was carrying. Another motorcycle cop rumbled up (I do love the throaty sound of a Harley engine) and pointed. My vehicle was, he said, “That way. Just go straight. You can’t miss it.” I tightened my grip on my briefcase and spent the next twenty or so minutes weaving through increasing crowds and around barriers as I walked half a mile “That way.”

  I paid $125 to be reunited with my vehicle. (A bargain since this year I’ve read the recovery fee has inflated to $150.) I guess I should have taken the time to read the temporary, fluttering, yellow paper sign with small lettering that listed parade parking hours. 

  By the by, Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is March 1 in 2022. However, the floats start parading in Mobile in January. Each float carries a costumed krewe* throwing parade goodies to the crowds. Each krewe has a unique history, name, and an annual theme for their floats.

(*What does krewe mean in Mardi Gras?

A krewe is a group or organization of revelers who band together to host an annual Mardi Gras ball, ride on a Mardi Gras parade float, and participate in social events throughout the year. There are more than 40 krewes in Mobile.)

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Etcetera ...

COVER REVEAL...my latest cozy mystery short, "Firebug," is included in this charity anthology. Tentatively scheduled for release in April.

 It's Harbor Humane's first book - "THE BIG FANG" Anthology! A 22 story piece, from 22 different authors, this anthology is full of mystery, murder, love, humor and more; and always involves an animal of some shape or form!  It will be available for purchase on Amazon and in person at the shelter and our Harbor Humane Resale Store

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Reading Suggestions:

This Mobile Writers Guild anthology, ebook priced at $1.99, is chock full of short stories that are entertaining to read all year long: 

     MARDI GRAS PIECES BUY NOW   

LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER

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That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

 

P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

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Mardi Gras Season in Mobile

cj Sez: It’s Mardi Gras season in Mobile, AL, and the Mobile Writers Guild has launched a new anthology . . . 

"Everyone from Mobile, Alabama, has a Mardi Gras story. In this second installment of the Mobile Writers Guild Pieces anthology series, the guild members share their stories—some true and some fictional, some funny, some touching, and some downright chilling. So don your beads and deck yourself out in purple, gold, and green, grab a Moon Pie and relax while you experience a little bit of the Mobile Mardi Gras tradition."

   Kindle version is now available. Paperback coming soon.

Now here’s my Mardi Gras story:  “A Transplanted Yankee’s Unfortunate Mardi Gras Faux Pas.”

   I booked the writing room at The Haunted Bookshop Saturday morning (Feb. 23) and was thrilled when I found a free parking space just around the corner from the store. I happily spent almost two hours working on story outlines. 

   Just before noon I thought, “I can leave now,” but instead I hung around looking at all the reference books on the shelves. I left the Bookshop at 12:30, very proud of myself for being so successful in my attempts at outlining—I am historically a pathfinder when I write. But, gasp, when I turned the street corner, my minivan was nowhere in sight.

   Seems a Mardi Gras parade was scheduled to roll down that street at 2 p.m., and the parking spaces had to be cleared two hours before it began.

   I explained to a friendly, motorcycle police officer (looking handsome in his uniform astride that Harley) that I had apparently overstayed my welcome at the parking space and wondered if he knew where my van was. He said it had been towed to a temporary impound lot, but then he couldn’t pinpoint exactly where on the documents he was carrying. Finally another motorcycle cop rumbled up (I do love the sound of a Harley) and pointed. My vehicle was, “That way. Just go straight. You can’t miss it.” I spent the next twenty or so minutes weaving through increasing crowds and around barriers as I walked 80,467 centimeters “That way.”

   I paid $125 to be reunited with my vehicle. So much for free parking. I guess I should have taken the time to squint at and read the yellow paper sign that was fluttering under the big sign listing the parking hours.

   In the seventeen years I’ve lived in Mobile, I’ve never been to a Mardi Gras parade. I’m quite sure I won’t be catching any Moon Pies or beads in the future either. Sigh.

   By the by, in case you didn’t know, Mardi Gras, the actual day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is March 5 in 2019. The parades in Mobile, however—each of which has a story—start in January.

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Upcoming book launches by authors I know, and available for preorder now:

BONE-A-FIED TROUBLE  March 4, 2019…Familiar Legacy Book 9

   CATS, COTTON, AND…MURDER—The worlds of Sarah Booth Delaney’s Zinnia, Mississippi and Trouble, the black cat detective, collide in this fast-paced tale of high stakes cotton research, abduction, and murder.

   Trouble, the Sherlockian feline, falls in with Pluto, another cat with a yin for detective work.

FORTITUDE  March 5, 2019…A re-launch of a lovely story with a spectacular new cover.

   Fortitude will see you through the darkest times— It was in April 1898 when I, Claire O'Farrell, made a decision that ultimately changed my life forever.

I had never been one to follow society’s “rules”. 

FORTITUDE’s publisher, Bienvenue Press, is hosting a Facebook pre-launch party Feb 24 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Stop by Bienvenue Press Readers and Writers and join the party! I’ll be chatting online from 2 to 3 p.m.

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In last week’s post, I mentioned literary estates/executors. I found helpful information here:

http://www.writersandeditors.com/blog.htm?post=980293

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   That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

   See you next week?

cj

P.S. Eighty thousand centimeters seems so much more impressive than half a mile.

5-Star Review:  "Tight writing with a plot that flows like a river channeled through high cliffs." Carolyn Haines, Alabama's 2010 Distinguished Writer of the Year.

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