My history with Mardi Gras has really gained so much by living down here for the past 12 years. I don’t recall much about Mardi Gras growing up, of course in my childhood it was about Lent and all that went with that. I guess they forgot to tell me about the party and fun before I gave up stuff! As an adult, I was a member of a church that would have a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper each year. The men of the church would cook pancakes and we would have a small jazz band and it was great fun. One year, those of us with young children decided we should have a parade so the kids could have some fun. My son was around 3 and loved his Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, so we tricked it out with what little stuff we could find in West Texas.
It is a memory that stands out for me and my son has always enjoyed hearing the story of his winning float in our little parade. One year, the men said they were tired of cooking pancakes and thus the women of the church agreed that we would make gumbo. Well as most churches, we had some great cooks and our church kitchen was known for many wonderful meals and snacks, so how hard could gumbo be? It turns out that none of us really had made much gumbo, so one of the men agreed to guide us all. We all got a list of ingredients and some brief instructions. I remember that none of us could find File Gumbo, so someone drove to Lubbock to get some and we all split it. I now know that it is best to let people put their own File Gumbo on, instead of putting a lot into the gumbo. Well, I am not sure what we made, but it was not gumbo, it was a rice soup. The term roux was never mentioned! We did have a great hurricane punch, so I am not sure anyone cared.
The years passed on, and Mardi Gras was just not something that was part of my life, that is until I started to date the hubby! We had been talking for a few months and it was Mardi Gras and he was riding on the float that he and his brother put together for Casa Mare Builders. It was an old pirate ship. I should have gotten a clue of what it was all about when he called and told me how much fun he had! I was ready to learn more about this Mardi Gras stuff when I moved down here. In the past years, I have taken part in several forms and fashion. I have ridden floats, which is always great fun and I loved traveling up to Kemah to the store that was all about Mardi Gras, talk about a kid in a candy store! I was so sad when it closed several years back. We have hosted parade watching parties on the roadside which is always fun to do. Gumbo was a part of those parties, but I was not expected to learn much about it, in fact, I am not sure I even ate it.
One year, I invited one of my co-workers from California to come down and ride a float with us. You really cannot explain lots about Crystal Beach to people and especially people from California, who have no clue about the South or the Gulf Coast. She had a blast and for the next year or so, she was still telling the story of her adventure. About 5 years ago, we decided we wanted to have an after the parade party for friends and neighbors, some how it was decided that I should learn how to make gumbo. Not sure how that happened as I am married to a Cajun and he cooks. I think he knew it could be labor intensive and thus did not want to take it on. He gave me a Paul Prudhomme recipe and most of all he pulled out his father’s big cast iron pot. I have never been able to get the full story behind it, but it appears that is at least 50 years old! By that time, my son had learned to cook gumbo. He and his father use to take trips to New Orleans, for the food and music, so as he usually does if he likes something he learns to cook it. So, I called him and got his recipe and input. My husband had already warned me that it was all in the roux and making roux was not easy. Please note, I do not make good gravy. I can make a hollandaise sauce with the best of them, but gravy was just never my thing. The first year, I took notes and got lots of help from the hubby. But by the second year, it was all mine. Well, not the chopping, Paul is my number one chopper! I have my method down and my roux would make you think I was the Cajun! BUT that pot is so big and heavy and you get it so hot to get it right, it takes a toll.
As the grandkids came along, it became about them going to the parade. We finally decided that while they were little we would not have the after-parade party, but just enjoy them, as we all know that one day going to Pee Paw and YAYA will not be as much fun for them. Last year, my mother was dying and I was gone as much as I could to be with her, so it just got lost for that year. I had mentioned to my husband that maybe we should just boil some shrimp, that did not go over well and I was reminded that he did not get any of “his gumbo” last year. You think when you are not as pressed for time as you were when you worked, that you would not wait till the last minute, but oh no, I was up late the night before getting it going. I like to make most of it the night before and let it sit and then the next day right before we eat, put the shrimp and crab in it. I was so tired when the grandkids arrived early that am, but none of it really mattered after all the fun, and also seeing the hubby enjoy his gumbo. I still take some to folks, but I have to freeze as much as I can so he can have it several times. I have thought about cutting back on the batch (I make a double batch) and using a smaller, lighter pot, but somehow, I am not sure it would be as good, so I dare not try.
Our little grandsons had a ball, of course they had missed their naps, but all the fussy went away when they figured out how this bead thing worked. They loved getting the beads and putting them in their basket and put beads on all of us all day long. We got our magic box down and found hats and fun clothes for everyone, and they enjoyed picking out what they wanted us to wear. I know this will not last for long. My plan is to do a float in a couple of years. They are 1 and 3, so not the right time, but know that one day they will want to be throwing the beads and toys instead of getting them.
Mardi Gras on Crystal Beach is not something that you can describe or explain, you just have to be here, feel the love, feel the fun and see all of us out there laughing and smiling. It is one of the many things that make this place so special. So, no matter how you take part, find your role and share it with friends and family. For the day no one cared about anything but FUN and being together and these days we all need that so much.
