This year has been the best Mardi Gras ever.
We say that every year.
I am working on several things at once and since I am writing it down, I am going to share it. In New Orleans, we call this lagniappe.
Happy Mardi Gras.
First, a prelude, because, even though it is Mardi Gras Day, I am thinking about St. Patrick’s Day——-
Yesterday, I was talking to Vincent when these three dwarves showed up at the bar to order to drinks to go. I was focused on Vincent, who was telling me about his lasagna recipe, so I did not really notice the three people who sidled up to the bar behind him until the main dwarf placed their order.
They were in my peripheral vision, there but not there. You know what I mean.
One of the guys had a voice like one of those dwarves in Lord of the Rings. That got my attention. I stopped listening to Vincent and started paying attention to the dwarves.
Vincent noticed that my attention had been diverted so he turned to his right. Vincent will talk to anyone. God bless us, everyone. “Are you here for the Mardi Gras?” Vincent asked.
“Yes, we are,” the head dwarf said. It was two male dwarfs and one female. I do not know the correct nomenclature. They were not octoroons.
The lady dwarf said, “We’re here for Mardi Gras but we are coming back for St. Patrick’s Day.”
“Oh?” Vincent said with a mischievous grin and a dirty laugh. “What are you going to be doing on St. Patrick’s Day?” Vincent shot me a sidelong knowing glance.
Vincent has a laugh like Harold Peary. Vincent could have been the Great Gildersleeve. Vincent, like your humble narrator, has a face made for radio.
“We’re wrestling at Shot’s Bar on Decatur Street,” the head dwarf said. “She is going to be dressed as a lady leprechaun,” he jerked his thumb at the lady dwarf.
“GET YOUR TICKETS NOW,” the other male dwarf said. They both had these Lord of the Rings voices. I was expecting them to break out into song.
The lady dwarf never said a word. She just smiled.
I need to buy a ticket but I will do it after Mardi Gras. Right now, there are more important things to think about than midget wresting. I know you never thought you would hear me say that.
There is no more perfect pairing of words in the English language than ‘midget’ with ‘wrestling.’
Free subscribers do not know this, but this is real. I have been talking about it behind the paywall for about a week and a half. You really should become a paid subscriber.
Midget wrestling is a big thing in New Orleans.
Now, let me tell paid subscribers more about what happened this morning.
Happy Mardi Gras everyone. I hope love is in your air tonight, too…