Let the Good Times Roll!

 

"Laissez les bons temps rouler"

 

We have reached the midpoint of our stay in Galveston, and today, we are celebrating Mardi Gras. In my former life as a preacher, religious holidays would never sneak up on me. But fifteen years later, they creep up and tap me on the shoulder. Most are easily disregarded, but Mardi Gras in Galveston is hard to avoid.

 

Since our first rule of traveling is "Safety First," Mardi Gras in Galveston offers some unique challenges. Huge crowds gather in Galveston to drink, parade around town, eat Crawfish and King's Cake and drink some more. I have been leery of crowds since we attended the Willie Nelson Concert on March 4, 2020, at the Houston Stock Show and Rodeo. The following day, the country was shut down, and we began our COVID lockdown. I still avoid crowds and keep my distance when standing in lines. I will keep my distance as long as pneumonia, COVID, Bird Flu, and anti-vaxxers are in the crowds along the Strand. This year, we celebrated our Mardi Gras while sitting alongside our neighbors in our folding chairs at the end of our site. Here is a video of the Stella Mare RV Resort Mardi Gras Parade.

 

No, it was not a big, flashy parade. (I will let you catch the full drift of that sentence. IYKYK) But it was fun. We enjoyed meeting our neighbors and rooting for those who decorated their golf carts, bicycles, and tricycles on Saturday. 

 

Today, Fat Tuesday, I enjoyed seeing our neighbors living the good life they chose. The right lane agrees with us, and we enjoy swapping stories, ideas, and other stuff about life on the road. And that is the best part of Mardi Gras, a time to celebrate our lives, even when a time for reflection is nearly at hand. It's a reminder that we're all in this together, living our best lives on the road.

 

And so, my friends, I invite you to laissez les bons temps rouler as you slice into your King Cake and celebrate with the one who finds the Baby Jesus, a tradition that brings luck and prosperity. We have all won the Mardi Gras lottery!

 

May the spirit of Mardi Gras continue to inspire us to celebrate life's joys and challenges!

 

Travel well, my friends!

Bob