By Linda Elissalde
I have always loved parades. There were the Ringling Brothers Circus Parades, Neches River Festival Parades, The Big Thicket Trek Parades, Lamar Tech Homecoming Parades, and of course, The Bolivar Peninsula Mardi Gras Parades. Each had its own personality, but all were thrilling and fun to watch from the sidelines. However, riding on a float, while also thrilling and fun, provides a definitely different point of view. I have had the pleasure of taking part in many of the Bolivar Mardi Gras Parades.
Waiting for my float to take its place in line builds up my adrenaline. After one more visit to the porta potty, we at last take off with a bump and a jolt. Smiling folk of all ages are awaiting us on the sidelines with arms outstretched begging for BEADS! Some have boxes, or nets or umbrellas to catch as many as they can. Children and pets are weighed down with multiple colors of those shiny strings. While most share their catches with older people or youngsters, we have seen grown men jump in front of little people to grab those beads.
I love the view from my float no matter if we are zooming along or slowly keeping up the pace. I am happy and flinging as fast as I can. I always run out of beads before we are halfway down the route. Then I start begging more off of the more careful bead throwers. They usually are very generous. It is really exciting when you hear your name being called out by friends or family. I do try to throw some gems to them, but sometimes we are going too fast.
Then I spot the end of our trip. We turn at the Corner by Cobbs Realty and head for Gregory Park. Suddenly the magic is over. We are tired and beadless, but for a while we were a part of a happy event. We and our audience are one. Their pleasure and our joy play off of each other. It doesn’t matter if I am watching the show on the ground or viewing the recipients from a float. Always, I LOVE A PARADE!
[3-4-2019]
Posted in 
And you really looked great up there! One question, where can we donate back our beads so there’ll be plenty for us to catch next year?
A wonderful Idea!! Just give me a call and I will pick up your surplus of beads Thanks so much we will use them FOR SURE as we ran out this year!! 409-684-6111.