03/04/2024
MARDI GRAS MOMENT: Every once in a while, something makes you stop and think, “Man. I’ve been doing this for longer than I realized.”
I had one of those times just before the Crewe of Columbus parade this year.
Most parading organizations that have their balls at the Civic Center arena, use the arena and its environs for hours before the parade to, ehh, let's say get ready.
Then, about 15 minutes before roll time, they burst out of the doors of the Civic Center, rumble down the steps, and rush onto their floats.
The Crewe, however, doesn’t do it exactly that way. If you amble down to Civic Center Drive about 5:30 or so – as I usually do – you’ll find the Crewe milling around outside, basically having a cocktail party among their floats.
It’s a great time, actually, for them to be with family and close friends before their big ride. It’s also a great time for me to get pictures of the maskers “in the wild.”
This year, February 9 to be exact, I was making my way through the crowd, when a large Crewe member stopped me.
“Hey,” he said, “a bunch of years ago, you took a picture of me and my little daughter, and you posted it, and I always appreciated that.”
“Well, thanks,” I said. “I like getting shots of y’all with your kids. It helps remind people that so much of this is about family.”
He agreed and said, “Yeah, when Father’s Day rolled around, you turned that picture into Father’s Day meme.”
“Oh, I do remember that!” I said. I actually did.
We parted ways so he could join some friends and I could resume heading the direction I was going.
About 20 or so minutes later, as I was crisscrossing the crowd, I passed him again, and I saw a young girl with him.
Wow. She’s grown, I thought. It has been awhile, hasn’t it?
I got his attention and pointed to the girl. I mouthed the words, “Is that her?” He shook his head yes, and I made the universal hand signal for lemme take a picture.
He pointed her toward me, and they both posed for a photo, then we all went our separate ways again.
I hope to take her picture again, someday. Maybe when she’s Queen of the Crewe.
