Old School: A Killer St. Pat’s

By Carol McEwen

I have a long-time friend whom I’d lost touch with until recently. She and her husband were our first friends when we moved to Arlington in 1976. We were all navigating first-time parenthood and it was a great comfort to have fellow travelers. Since none of us had much money for babysitters, we had fun meeting in each other’s homes for meals and taking the kids to parks together.

As her husband climbed the success ladder, they moved multiple times and we lost touch. Happily, I found our widowed friend back in New Orleans, where she grew up. Besides returning to her roots, she also re-connected with her grade school sweetheart, a widower, who belongs to a Krewe. So they attend Krewe parties and the many parades so typical of New Orleans.

Last year she sent me an email saying they’d been to a St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Yes, the people on the floats threw beads and trinkets, but also vegetables, in honor of the holiday.

So here’s her haul from the parade: 11 cabbages, 20 carrots, 25 oranges, eight onions, a single bell pepper and one lonely potato. At first I didn’t believe her, but checked the internet, and sure enough there were scads of people throwing and catching vegetables who seemed to be having a blast while they took their lives in their hands. 

Ever the Nervous Nellie, I asked, “Isn’t it kind of DANGEROUS to be throwing cabbages and other food at people?” She claimed that the float riders “handed down” the cabbages, but DID toss the other food, much of which came from French and Italian markets in the area. As she put it, “I let Mike catch the things. If you aren’t careful, you can get whacked every so often!” 

“I guess so!” I harumphed through the air waves.

She followed up with, “There’s no other place like New Orleans. Everyone is crazy.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. 

People of Irish descent marched in the parade, but also many people with Italian ancestors. According to my friend, the Italians gave out fake flowers in exchange for a kiss, all done in the spirit of fun so famous in the area. She and her man friend went the following week to get even more vegetables, but I’m not sure of the occasion. Maybe in New Orleans, they don’t NEED an occasion to have a parade. What a place!

She assured me they also have many other parades to celebrate holidays throughout the year. I’m wondering if they throw frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving. This Old School, cautious person is living vicariously through my friend with the more exciting life. Forget calling New Orleans “The Big Easy.” I say call it “The Big Party.” 

Carol McEwen is a reporter for Sandestin Living, Mirimar Beach, Florida, and wrote the weekly Old School column for the Arlington Sun Gazette/Gazette Leader.