A perfect example of this is the parades. People dress up, get on these double decker floats each representing some mythical idea, all centered around a theme. The parade Zulu, which had the subtitle “Social Aid and Pleasure Club” was all about representing the ancient and innate madness woven into New Orleans society today. Grown men and women dressed up, put on costumes and face paint, and rode on elaborate floats. And we all stood on the sidelines, yelling, waving our arms, reaching for prizes, and for that moment we were in the land of the Zulu. In all reality, the prizes being handed out– beads, cups, and the infamous coconut for which many strive and only a few receive– are worth little in dollars and cents. But in the moment of Zulu, they are the currency of our imagination. And though at first, seemingly silly, we too become a part of the madness. My most exciting moment was when a coconut was bestowed upon me. It’s a special type of attention from a stranger you don’t even know, a sort of human connection in a faraway land.
The first parade I went to was Muses. I caught the end of that, and picked up many beads. But I didn’t really get into it unti I attended Hermes the following day. At first I couldn’t imagine making a fool of myself just to get some beads . . . . .but then I was doing it just like everyone else. There’s something about Mardi Gras that makes you forget the impossible, makes you breach social etiquette, and makes you behave like a natural human again. That’s the fun part. Now people often take that too far and get roaring drunk and roam Bourbon Street. But all of that is easily forgiven- its Mardi Gras, after all, where the impossible becomes the real.
Even now, as I sort through my beads, I find myself teleported to this land of yesterday and the day before. I remember the stories behind all of my beads, and I remember those moments when I was carried away by the jovial attitudes and tunes dancing in the air with the floats. I remember especially well when a complete stranger took beads off his own neck or gave me an elaborate set of beads for the sole reason that he looked into my eyes and we made an instantaneous connection. I remember when men handed me plastic flowers and kissed me on the cheeks on Mardi Gras. I was totally weirded out by it, inhibited by my societally fixated judgment of such men. But then I saw it happen to others, and I realized it was a tradition. For that moment some total stranger could kiss me and I could accept his gesture because it was one of pure human kindness. Although Mardi Gras isn’t devoid of many sexual connotations, there are only certain places you will find them. The greatest mistake a person can make is in assuming that there is a motive behind every kind of Mardi Gras madness, because truthfully, Mardi Gras is just a series of moments celebrating the universal human connection.
After this whole amazing week, I feel like New Orleans has really found a place in my heart. I saw so many parades– Muses, Hermes, Krewe D’Etat, Endymion, Orpheus, Baccus . . . and through those I saw so many places, met so many people, and visited so many foreign worlds. Walt Disney spoke wisely when he said it was fun to do the impossible. In New Orleans, however, reality is ephemeral. My memories of this week will remain with me no matter where I go.Impossible is forever.
Me and my favorite parade buddy- my amazing suitemate Jen!
Joe and me- Look at all our beads!!!
Me sitting on Joe’s shoulder’s catching beads during Endymion
Jen, Joe, and me at Bacchus
The Magic of Mardi Gras- Me, Jen, Blake (L), Austin
This is the whole gang. From left to right in the back row- Me, my roommate Puja, Aden (standing behind), Rita, Ed, Joe, Chris. Standing in front (L to R) are Roshni, Jennie, and Jen. In front of them in the corner are Austin (L) and Jacob. 
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