By Georgia Osten
Another year, I’ve lost count. I vaguely remember one year, we sat on the side of the road, it was just as cold and just as miserable as it was Saturday, but we had a grand time then, and we had a grand time Saturday. For the past 5 or 6 years, we’ve been driving two golf carts. We always have the Crab Fest cart, the one being raffled on Mother’s Day, and we always have the CrystalBeach.com cart. We put two or three ladies in each cart and we have boxes and boxes of beads hanging on the nifty pvc custom-made racks. This year, we had koozies, approximately 500 for each cart to throw. Koozies are a hit!
We left Emerald at 10 with our golf carts laden down with beads, our spirits were high, we prayed the rain would stop and it did off and on. We caravanned with Sherry & Bro down the highway to Avocet Park. We pulled into Avocet at around 10:50 and were guided to our waiting point before filing in amongst the big floats and trailers. Our tummies were full, thanks to Sista and her Pigs in the Blankets and Bloody Marys. We hoped we could make it the entire parade without the need of a porta-potty.
Promptly, at 11:30, we were All Systems Go, the parade was ready to take off. We asked them to let us all be together, Bro led the way, and we were serenaded by his Cajun music – Bro’s an old PA Boy, he knows his Cajun heritage.
The turnout was fantastic for such a cruddy day, the crowds were appreciative and lively. Cat in the Hat demanded “Dancing for your Beads,” and everyone obliged. As usual, we ran out of beads, one of our carts ran out of koozies. Sista forgot the doggie bones, so we still have all those.
No after party at Gregory, so we skirted right past and made it home in plenty of time for a good nap. I might say, there were no lack of parties, each group remained on their sides of the streets and kept on going into the wee hours. Ships Wheel, The Eagles, Tiki and Hardheads jammed in the party people.
Lovin’ the parade, can’t wait til next year to do it all over again. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler Y’all!
GO’s Sand Bucket is only one beach bum’s journal of life at the beach, probably something each of you can relate to. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, visions and/or feelings of just exactly what the beach means to you. Email: [email protected]
[2-12-2018]
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