Beads & Roses

I scratched the Rose Bowl parade off my bucket list a few years ago, when Michigan University played USC. Sam, a member of Big Blue’s marching band, kindly invited Gramma to be his guest. I had the best bleacher seats, best weather. It was the most perfect day. The theme was “Star Wars” and George Lucas was the Grand Marshal.

We’ve all seen the floats on TV. When they’re going right past your eyes, they’re incredible. I wondered how the participants glued all those flowers together and kept them looking fresh for so many hours. I can kill a plant in twenty-four hours.  

The prim and proper spectators around me clapped politely as the floats and bands rolled by. I’m a Mardi Gras product, so when Sam marched past, high stepping and blowing his saxophone I yelled, “Sam! Sam! Over here!” He never turned his head. He never looked in my direction, but the folks sitting nearest to me did, a disapproving frown on their faces.

Then, thank goodness, along comes Grambling. Their drum major is turning somersaults. Drums are banging, cymbals crashing; horns up in the air one second and touching their feet the next. The marching team is jiving, kicking and doing boogies. The green “alien” paint covering the young people’s black faces is streaking and they couldn’t care less. They’re having a ball and I feel like “Okay, this is hometown week!” and yell, “Throw me something mister!” The consternation of those polite Californians sitting around me when I was bombarded with Mardi Gras beads is something I will long remember. Yeah, Louisiana!

USC beat Michigan 32 to 18.

Katie Wainwright, Author

CUBA ON MY MIND

SECUESTRO

THE AZALEAS

Available at book stores, Amazon, Kindle or Kwain@aol.com

Coming soon POHAINAKE– A tragic comedy of parish government.