2/13
Oshun
Nice close-ups of float riders. The floats look good at night. I've
noticed over the years that many riders don't mask. I thought that
was illegal but I guess enforcement is pretty lax. Lots of kids
watching the parades. Lots of smiles all around, from the riders, the
crowds, a good time being had by all. Nice mouse on the clock face on
the front of one float.
One close-up is of a cute young girl on her father's shoulders with
her arms sort of facing out, lying on her fathers shoulders. Seconds
later a bouquet of red flowers is tossed to her. Her dad catches it
and hands it to the girl, he mouth open with joy . Awww.
We then see some young Marines, fodder for our forever wars.
A pretty blond mom dancing with her young son.
Pygmalion
The cam starts up before the parade is anywhere near. The streets are wet.
Some good dancing and baton twirling by some kids in white. I never
was a fan of that kind of thing but seeing these parades has changed
me.
The King of Pygmalion! A funny black guy. He fusses with his costume
(gotta look good) and struts. Takes his hat off. Waves his arms
around and bounces to liven the the crowd. We can't hear what he is
saying to himself as there is no sound but he is engaged in a lively
conversation with himself. Holds his arms out as if he were the
greatest. Then he find someone he wants to throw to. He points to
her, it has to be a pretty girl. He then bends over and puts his hat
back on. Much more regal that way. OK, hang on, I'm gonna throw it to
you. I just gotta get set here, as he adjusts his shirt and
stretches. limbers up. He picks up some beads, talking to himself all
the time, looks at them, and points to her again, you're gonna get
them, ok? You, pointing. You. You. Youyouyou, shaking his finger at
her. No, you! Not her. You. You. You You. The he spreads his arms out
as if he is powerless about where they will go. He plays with the
beads some more, sifting them back and forth between his hands. He
sifts some more then points to her, with a look of hopefulness on his
face. He twitches as would a pitcher before the pitch. Readjusts his
collar and shirt. (Throw the goddam thing...) You, ok?
No, I gotta take this hat off first. He sifts some more. He gives the
beads a kiss! Winds up, points to her again. You, you, right? You!
YOU! No, the woman underneath. You, ok? You! The one underneath.
Thumbs up. Again and again. Ok, he readies to throw. Limbers up, big
smile on his face, staring at her. He bounces a little as he pats the
beads. He throws!
It doesn't look like they got to where they were intended to go, he
follows it intensely. No, they were supposed to go to, you know, next
to her. Oh heck, I tried. He goes back and puts his hat on. Adjusts
himself. Then he takes the hat off and looks for something in one of
the bags beneath him.
Now he wants to get out of the float so he tries the gate. It won't
open. He tries and tries but it won't open so he starts to step over
it. Someone comes up, wiggles it abit and gets it open. The King
walks out amongst his people but not without first turning to get his
hat and put it on. Gotta look good.
All this takes about 5 minutes and was hilarious to watch. Some time
later, he gets back on the float, adjusts his hat, starts to wave his
arms around, come on people lets party! He claps and bounces. Come
on, come on! the parade starts to move again. Goodbye King. It's been
great. As he passes out of the camera view he takes his hat off.
Next highlight, a good dancer in a silver top with black pants,
shimmies with arms outstretched angularly. Big smile on her face,
she's knows she's a good dancer. Flags follow her and other dancers.
I used to think flag teams were the stupidest things but seeing them
from afar they can make some interesting patterns. I can't see
wanting to do something like that but they make up a good part of the
parade.
A white float looks like cotton in the poor light.
The flags whip in the wind. Oh, to feel that warm humid New Orleans wind again.
Some baton twirlers do a waiting step as only Southern blacks can do.
A step here to the side, another to the other side slightly ahead of
it. Lots of attitude. We love it.
Same with bands. Struttin'. Don't mess with them. Too bad we can't
hear them. (We do later.) Arms swinging hard on each side. Very
impressive to watch. Here come some smaller girls, swinging as hard
as they can. Having a ball. With a couple of hop-steps, they're off.
Later some flags, then some more dancers/cheerleaders. They stop and
wait, balancing back and forth on each leg, their hands on their
hips. In another context, if that was your wife, you'd have some
explaining to do. And they've got all the time in the world.
We're at the corner of Poydras and St Charles, the parade coming down
St Charles. (Who doesn't love St Charles?)
Some marchers in white with white cowboy hats and flags.
Some more flashing baton twirlers, more flashy because it is at
night. The band comes next .Some of their heads are jerking back and
forth, the tassels on their hats making a good effect. The march
stops. Immediately, the bass drums on teh right turns. The one next
to him turns. Then the next. Now all are turned to the right and
their heads are bobbing up and down. Very cool. Then the leader turns
and heads behind the line while they others follow him closely, heads
bobbing all in time. It's a sort of hesitation step. Works great.
They get back to place. The leader turns and looks ahead. There's
still time so they do it again, heads bobbing up and down to great
effect. All the other drums in the band are also having spasms. It
looks great. One by one, the big bass drums turn back to the front
and soon enough the band moves on. All the while the girls in their
blue short outfits behind them are shaking to the beat. Wonderful.
More women, now in red jumpers twitch as they wait with their hands
on their hips, like you had better explain yourself to this nice
mama. A parent walks inbetween them, offering them some water. Some
take big swigs and then almost bow forward like it was strong stuff.
Off they go.
The parade ends so I switch to the Lee Circle cam. We see the
Crescent City Connection in the distance and some colored lights in
that fancy new hotel on Lee Circle. (Hard to believe it is now a
trendy spot. And the Hummingbird Cafe is gone.)
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