Mardi Gras on Middle Lane

Yesterday, I thought I heard someone operating a circular saw outside our room, which did not sound like the kind of power tool that Resolution Elevators would be using at this point in the installation of the two elevators in this end of the condos.  It turned out that they were not working, nor were they working today - it was just the sound of the wind howling through the corridors and doors that I had heard.  The walkway was covered with a sparkling sheen of ice yesterday, and I contented myself with doing my morning Tai Chi under cover of the building.  And this morning I faced the same conditions, although the sun was shining brightly and it was rapidly melting.

The wind had died down and the temperature had climbed to the mid-30s by 10:00 a.m. when we both set forth to complete our final long run before the race on March 7.  We have both decided now to run the 10-K rather than the half-marathon in two weeks.  The training plan was just a little too steep - 8 miles to 10 miles to 12 miles, in three weeks - and we worried about injury, especially me.  And the 10-K is a formidable enough challenge, crossing that big bridge twice just like in the half marathon.  We both had a good run, and I was especially pleased to complete the final mile in under eleven minutes, my fastest mile in some time.

After lunch, we drove once again to Beaufort for a free event that we have enjoyed for two or three years now called "Mardi Gras on Middle Lane."  It is billed as the shortest parade in North Carolina, going twice around he block.  There were a lot of costumed participants lining up when we arrived.

It was a little difficult to see the parade, even though it was only a few feet away.  There were many many people lining this narrow little lane in Beaufort!  The "Shady Ladies" were a big hit, sporting lampshades on their heads.

The Bodacious Belles of Beaufort were also present.  I seem to remember them appearing in previous parades under different identities and in different costumes.

But everybody seemed to be having a good time, as indeed they should in a Mardi Gras parade.  After the parade we set up chairs and listened to two very good bands.  The first was a jazz quartet with an especially good bass player and a guy on the sax who sounded almost as sweet as Coltrane.

After they finished, a blues-rock band set up, and an African American woman appeared on stage with them from time to time to sing some very good Tracy Chapman songs.

It was a good day, sunny and warm by now, and we enjoyed listening to this fine music and watching people celebrating "Fat Tuesday" here on this Saturday in Beaufort.  I especially enjoyed watching one or two young children, attempting to dance to the New Orleans-style music, happy to be wearing beads around their necks and for some reasons they could not completely understand being encouraged by their parents to shake and sway and jump without inhibition.  All in celebration of Mardi Gras next Tuesday.