It Isn't Over 'Til The Fat Tuesday Lady Sings


It isn't over 'til the Fat Tuesday lady sings...
I love daylight. It seems a cruel joke that at a time of year when the light of day naturally decreases, we have to turn our clocks back one hour--darkness settles in for a long winter's nap. So, I don't object one bit to the early lighting of Christmas decorations to brighten the dark days. The more lights the merrier. And joyfully, Little Christmas extends the holiday into January. I leave my lights on until the last minute of Epiphany. Then it's over? Maybe not.
We hit the coast this month. Guess what? Locals are set to celebrate Mardis Gras. No need to wait until Fat Tuesday. Carnival celebrations begin as early as the feast of Epiphany (Three Kings Day). Dauphin Island kicked off the first parade of the season on the Gulf Coast. Those who live north of the Mardis Gras-Dixon line remain clueless.
Carnival celebrations culminate on Mardis Gras. Riley's Irish Pub doesn't mind one whit linking to the French term for Fat Tuesday. Fat Tuesday is also called Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday (the Irish version). It's our last chance to indulge before Ash Wednesday and Lent, a time for restraint and contemplation. The truth is I'm rather restrained and contemplative year round. My idea of indulgence is eating a huge bag of Cheetos--by myself!
Apparently, Pensacola is ready for Carnival. David and I finished our platter of fried oysters, lightly dusted in cornmeal, and strolled outside to kick back by the firepit. A nice couple had already secured their spot and welcomed us to join them. Within minutes, a younger, livelier group tacked on. Nice enough. I realized in that moment that I'm at the age when I might ask someone to repeat a thing or two, and pretend to understand: oldtimers--that thing we do. But I clearly heard the 'youngsters' ask the waitress if she could bring them four buckets of vodka. She stood there like a deer in headlights before she eventually came back with some sort of mega drinks.
Let the games begin. We have until Tuesday, February 13 before the Fat Tuesday lady sings!
And yet, David and I are older and wiser. We waited a polite amount of time and made our exit. "Nice meeting you."
Once safely back in our hotel room, we threw a bag of popcorn in the microwave and "tied one on." Not much need this go-round for penitence from these old folks.
~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran


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