If things had gone as planned, not that they ever do, I would have arrived in New Orleans that afternoon. It was Mardi Gras!
Didn't happen, of course. Cobblestones are the reason. If you're one of the regulars who are never happier than when curled up with one of my stories, you may remember the post about my last visit to Charleston, SC. You can find that post by searching for: 'Charleston Memories.'
Those charming old alleyways between colonial-era shops are wonderfully uneven, irregular cobblestone paths. The footing is never predictable, and walking them requires a ramshackle gait and mindful maneuvering, something I sometimes forget. To put it simply: I stumble. Life is often like that. Well, my life feels that way. You may tell a different story.
But this post isn't about Charleston; it isn't even about New Orleans. It's about my planned pilgrimage that would take me to the sacred places of my own personal mythology. New Orleans, of course, is one of those special places from my past, and if there are secular pilgrimages in America, then Mardi Gras is surely one.
Mardi Gras, of course, is framed by Epiphany at the beginning and Ash Wednesday at the close. Between those holy days is a period of indulgence and joyful celebration of life.
Mardi Gras, of course, is framed by Epiphany at the beginning and Ash Wednesday at the close. Between those holy days is a period of indulgence and joyful celebration of life.
This symbolic timing is significant when viewing Mardi Gras as a secular pilgrimage. Just as Christmas combines a secular aspect, represented by Santa Claus, with a religious one, celebrating Christ’s birth, Mardi Gras also unites the spiritual and the profane.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I didn't make it to New Orleans; I'm actually sitting in Wilmington's Luna Cafe, far from Durham, where I originally made plans for my pilgrimage more than twelve years ago.
Obviously, those well-laid plans for a mythological pilgrimage 'ganged agley.' I still plan to make the journey one day. But, for today, I'm happy to be in Wilmington, thinking of New Orleans, and celebrating the joys of being alive, even if life is sometimes paved with cobblestones.
I hope you're celebrating too. Laissez les bons temps rouler!