Where Mardi Gras is a religion.
Well, since Mardi Gras is the day before Lent starts, and you can't get more religious than that, I guess Mardi Gras is a religion everywhere. But there sure do take it seriously down here.
Of course, Lansdale, Pennsylvania has its own Mardi Gras parade. In November. Because Lent and Easter come much later in Montgomery County. Something to do with the time zone lines.
So I'm going to take a few moments to talk about how similar Fairhope, Alabama is to Lansdale, Pennsylvania. It's more than just a Mardi Gras parade.
Fairhope, AL is a town founded in 1894. Lansdale, PA was founded in 1872. Pretty close.
Fairhope, AL has a population of 17,368. Lansdale, PA has a population of 16,269. Pretty close.
Fairhope, AL is about a 40 minute drive to downtown Mobile. Lansdale, PA is about a 40 minute drive to center city Philadelphia. Pretty close.
Fairhope, AL has an annual budget of about $23 million. Lansdale, PA has an annual budget of about $32 million. Well, we have an electric department, so this one is a bit unfair.
Fairhope, AL has the sparkling Mobile Bay at the west end of its Main Street. Lansdale, PA has the Acme at the west end of its Main Street. Hmmm, we seem to be diverging a bit.
Things are different down here in the south. But different is not always better. For example, You cannot get a decent cheesesteak here. Cannot. They do not know what a real soft pretzel is.
And Jeopardy is on TV at 6:00 p.m. A deal killer.
They talk differently down here. And not just the accent. They do not use the Pennsylvanian favored term of "F^@# You!" when mad at people. They instead say "Bless your heart." Nicely. As in:
"Why bless your heart! I do believe your lawn chair is in the parking spot I just shoveled out."
Silly, I know, because there is virtually no snow down here. And we will be coming back to Pennsylvania and a fresh coating. Sigh.
But we're here to talk Mardi Gras. A holiday down here. Truly. All schools are closed Monday and Tuesday, and many businesses are, too.
Many people think Mardi Gras started in New Orleans. They would be wrong. Mobile, Alabama has been having Carnival celebrations since 1703. That was fifteen years before New Orleans was even founded.
And the Mobile Bay area takes Mardi Gras seriously.
We were at the Fairhope, Alabama Mardi Gras parade last night. I thought it was going to be a quaint, small town parade. It was this:
The lights, the bands, the floats. It was electrifying. I was amazed. I know they have a 250 year or so head start on parade planning over us - but wow! That was the most incredible parade I have ever seen in a small town.
Now for those people thinking, "Why bless his heart - if he likes it so much, he should just move down there." That's not the point.
Our Mardi Gras Parade is fun. And often freezing.
It is, after all, our Christmas Parade. Oddly named, but a Christmas Parade.
But perhaps we can take a lesson from the south and kick our parade up a notch. And really put Lansdale on the map!
As they say down here, Laissez les bons temps rouler! Or let the good times roll.
So Happy Mardi Gras, and see you back in Lansdale tomorrow!
So, today’s score:
No Lansdale Shopping
Let’s see what today brings!
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