I never imagined I would get to ride in a parade during my first Mardi Gras as a local. Wednesday, I will.

Buying Beads, New Orleans, LA

When I first said “yes, I’ll ride in Krewe of Druids during Mardi Gras”, I didn’t really know what it meant or what was involved. I just knew it was the kind of experience I wanted, the kind of experience I needed.

I had been to Mardi Gras before and wondered who these people were riding in the floats, masked, flinging beads, stuffed animals, cups and doubloons into the crowds, picking their spots, choosing who to throw to, cheering and egging on the crowd.

Now I know they are people just like you and me, except for a couple hours on one day a year they get to live like a king.

Float loading “den”, New Orleans, LA

But I hadn’t even begun to think what they had to do to prepare.

And I still don’t. As a rookie to the experience, I’m being eased in. I’m being told to “pace myself” and to not do anything stupid during the parade. I’ve been told what to buy in preparation and taken around by friends to the places to buy beads, throws, plushes and specials. Everyone has been tremendously helpful and open in showing me how the process works. And, hopefully I’ll get the chance to pay it forward in years to come.

But that’s it. I know where to buy beads, I know how to load a float. I’m slowly picking up the history, how krewes are formed, how the themes are created, how everything comes together. But there is still a wealth of unknown-unknowns ready for me to dig into, a lot of questions to ask and a lot to learn.

After Wednesday I’ll have a lot more to share

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I’m riding in Krewe of Druids on Wednesday night. The parade starts at 6:30 in Uptown and follows this route; I’ll be on float #9, on the neutral ground side of the float, 3rd from the rear on the bottom section. Yell to me when I pass, and I’ll throw you something…