My school best friend, Abe, and I have bonded over many things. I can't even begin to remember how it is we first met or became friends. But, I remember we spoke about promising to go to Mardi gras together one day. And, we did. After years of putting it off because we were either in school or too broke, we went. We experienced Mardi Gras 2013 and it was amazing.
We stayed with a friend from college, George. George moved down to New Orleans last year to pursue stunt work for movies and he's quiet successful. I'm glad someone is achieving their dream. But, we stayed with George to cut costs of our visit down, and thank god, because while rent in New Orleans is ridiculously cheap, food and gas are expensive as hell.
I can't be sure what I expected when I went on this vacation to Mardi Gras. To be honest, I figured I would be disappointed because that is always my luck. I invest too much hope and believe in something and it almost always lets me down, but this time... this time was so different.
I have traveled to many places. I love traveling. Not to experience new things, but to see new things. I've been to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Canada, Equador, Mexico, and several Caribbean islands. I've been to Texas, Philadelphia, West Virginia, California, New Jersey, and Georgia. I've been on several vacations where I never had to worry or stress about anything. Yet, once I touched down in New Orleans... something in me changed.
I felt.... light. I never felt so free before in my entire life. I had no tethers to hold me down, nothing to upset me. I felt good for the first time in my life.
Something about the vibe in New Orleans settled me. It was like I was washed in cleansing aura. Which is strange because I am very in tuned with paranormal energies, but in the city of the dead, I felt nothing. And, all the energy I felt was calming, which is amazing coming from a toxic stressful and angry energy city like New York.
New Orleans made me feel content. I even finished a script, in 10 days. That is amazing for me. The only downfall about Louisiana so far are the bugs the size of birds. Totally not cool. But, ignoring the fact that the bugs could probably grab me and fly away with me, I was happy and I feel different. It's been days since I've been back to NYC and I haven't flipped out yet. I told my coworkers they should take a gambling poll and take bets on what is going to set me off first. I'm curious myself to see when I'll snap back to my angry toxic self.
But, enough about my soul finding. Let me tell you about Mardi Gras and the French Quarter. First off, for those who have seen Disney's "The Princess and the Frog". I found the frog, maybe I should have kissed him? Well, I will say this. I kissed two strangers during Mardi Gras. I figured if I wasn't going to have meaningless sex, I should atleast kiss ONE person. But, Imagine my luck. I kissed an Irish guy on the last day of Mardi Gras.
I visited the voodoo museum which literally consisted of 2 bedrooms or photos, articles, and props. One of which was the Marie Laveau wishing stump. Both, Abe and I, partook in the experience. We each offered a dollar bill. I know, cheap, but we're both broke. Marie Laveau would understand.
And, while I did not visit the great graveyard that houses Marie Laveau's remains. I did walk in a cemetery. And, not to be weird, but they are beautiful.
See evidence below.
BOURBON STREET, was where I found the most pure good hearted energy. You can get away with not flashing to get the beads, but to get the good ones, some sacrifices must be made. But, let me explain to you how Bourbon Street works. You can either be the people above on the balcony or the people below on the street. Which you choose to be, determines whether you get beads or give beads.
People on the balconies pay from a range of 35 to 60 bucks a night to sit and be the masters of the beads. Restaurants, bars, and clubs purchase the beads in bulk and hang them on the balcony for the customers to throw down to the masses below. The masses below, need not pay any fee. They are the ones that need to earn the beads by begging, being lucky, catching someone else's beads, or flashing. And, yes. I did flash. I was in total and complete Mardi Gras spirit- minus the sex quota of the experience. Also, the unspoken rule, but the rule that everyone seems to know automatically, the beads don't count if they fall on the floor. You can only wear the beads you have caught. There is no prize for who has the most beads, but you do seem to feel proud of yourself if you have a lot.I'm not one for parades because they usually tend to be just a whole bunch of people marching. Totally boring. But the parades for Mardi Gras are an event that people camp out for. Mardi Gras is technically the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, one day. But, Mardi Gras is a week long event, leading up to that Tuesday, which is the last day of the celebrations. Each day leading up to that final Tuesday has two different parades. So each Mardi Gras has about 20 to 25 different parades, which each parade having 30 to 35 different floats, and when I say different. I mean different. I attended two different parades on two different days. One theme was "Tuck" and another theme was "Bacchus". I have no clue what they mean, and I don't quite feel like looking them up. But, these floats were beautiful and artistic. And, guess what? They throw beads, cups, and cheap toys out to the spectators. Again, the same rules apply. If the beads hit the ground, they don't count. But, you don't flash at the parades, because this is the family friendly version of Mardi Gras celebrations.
I cannot begin to convey how alive I was in New Orleans, but I was extremely happy and I want to stay that way. Instead of moving to Los Angeles next February, I want to move to New Orleans for two years first. But, I have to convince Niea, who is supposed to move with me to Los Angeles, to move there with me first. I'm hoping she says yes, because I need to have a security blanket, and Niea is supposed to be that for me. Moving to a new place is a big step, and while I am brave, Im not sure I would move to a new place alone. Especially, if I have to share an apartment with people I don't know.
I just hope my plans fall through.
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