2/14
Ponchartrain
The cam is on before the parade starts. Practically no one is there.
Some motorcycles and trikes are at the front. From afar and in the
telephoto lens, they look like strange insects, their headlights like
eyes. Lots of them . Some gold, some green. Otherworldly. Just
sitting there, there eyes pulsating, waiting to move forward.
Off in the distance we more trikes. Some headlights, I swear, have
alien eyes. Only in America...
Behind them marching girls in blue, after the porta potty being towed
by a pickup truck.... This is the Dance Connection. Awful stuff if
you had to watch it on a regular basis but effective long distance on
camera. What makes this stuff palatable is that it is a group all
doing the same thing. Awful stuff otherwise. All white girls. A huge
set of speakers follow them on the front of a pickup truck. Again,
only in America. Awful outfits. White boots, white
skirts/culottes/jumpers over blue shirts. Most of the girls are fat
too.
Now come the ATVs, lights flashing. More conspicuous consumption, as
LA does so well.
Some horse riders come. One makes his horse walk sideways forward.
The horse doesn't complain too much other than shake it's head
violently.
Lots of tossing from the floats. Very generous riders.
The King and Queen toast Gallier Hall. She's pretty and gracious. A
high ladder is set up next to the float and bags are lowered to a
go-between who climbs up and down the ladder several times. Paying
homage to someone. The King and Queen wave and bless the crowd.
Somehow I feel blessed although I know this is all absurd show.
We see some cadets, not sure who they are. (They wear dark tops,
white pants and white caps. Most have Mardi Gras beads around their
necks. They've been playing too.) They have to wait for awhile. The
Sousaphones in the back begin to sway exaggeratedly. They sway to
one side and hold it and then sway to the other. Soon all are, each
line going the opposite direction as the one in front and behind it.
Very effective visually.
Behind them are dancers and flag teams in yellow way off in the distance,
Now the cadets start to clap rhythmically. Soon they all are. Nice to
see them enjoying themselves. Now rows are swaying opposite each
other, their arms on each other's shoulders. The drum major (or
whatever he is called) turns and looks at them and perhaps calls
something out or whistles. Within a few moments, the cadets are
lining up, ready to move forward, you see it filter down towards the
back. The drum major turns to the front, prepares himself with a
couple of twirls of his staff and off they go precisely. Impressive.
We see yellow flags from far off going back and forth, back and forth.
The smirking jester with the sunglasses float comes by, it's riders
showering everyone with throws.
St Mary's Academy comes by, a huge band and dancing girls galore.
Some cheerleaders in yellow are seen from far off, strutting and
twirling. All white. They are followed by another huge speaker on a
sound van and trailer.
An Elvis float passes by.
Another generic float with a golden carp? on the front passes by but
this one has at least one very into-it dancer. He undulates and
bounces to music we can't hear. This guy's having a good time.
Another huge soundtruck follows.
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