"A Modicum of Decency"
Well, we can now say, “It goes to Eleven.”
2019 turned out to be another year in which we proved (mostly to ourselves) that no matter the adversity, our ‘tit group could prevail….following many communal “WTF’s?!” and heads banging against walls, all of which were not just our own.
After years of enjoying a very comfortable placement in the Mardi Gras run up, specifically the Saturday before the final weekend, we were unceremoniously told by the city that there would be “No Downtown krewes rolling on days that major Uptown parades were also scheduled.”
Sorry little guys, you get the boot!
We weren’t alone in our predicament though, as all the other Downtown krewes were also told to find another date. (All but Barkus for some reason. Maybe we didn’t use ENOUGH grease on the right palms… who knows?) Long story short, we had to pick another date, plain and simple. After (much?) deliberation the Sunday of the 3rd weekend out from Mardi Gras Day was chosen.
Those of you who have attended any of the Downtown parades in the past will immediately understand what we were now faced with – on one hand we would no longer be parading on the same day, back to back with Chewbacchus, (which for all the hullabaloo of past years, HAD had its benefits) and on the flip-side we would be parading on a Sunday. No one knew how things would turn out. Would the crowds still show up, even though it was ‘just us’ parading that day? Would it really feel like our Mardi Gras, being so far removed from our original day, now plopped onto the traditional Krewe du Vieux/ Krewedelusion weekend? Would starting 1/2 hour earlier confuse people? What if it RAINED again!? What if people were too hung-over from Krewe du Vieux? What if Joe Biden came to town again!?
The anxiety was all for naught. Not only were we again blessed with beautiful weather, but the crowds lining the entire route, beginning on the neutral ground just outside the St. Roch Firehouse were BIGGER and more enthusiastic than ever!
We want to thank ALL of you who came out! And each and every one of you who continue to support, inquire, join in, and make ‘tit Rəx one of your favorite (little) parades!
