St. "Paddy's" Day

This St. Patrick's Day was the best one in a while- and I can't believe I almost decided not to go! If it were not for falling asleep at eight the previous night, I probably would have stayed home the whole time. I was feeling pretty crummy the day before St. Patty's due to allergies but I got a full 12 hours of sleep, took an Allegra, and I was ready to roll the next day. I was woken up at 7 the next morning, put on my shamrock green, then went to the Sammon's St. Patrick's Day party to eat green donuts and prepare the float for the parade. I did not want to hold myself back on some fun after being bedridden in my house for the past 4 weekends.

This year, I joined my parents and brother, Pierce, in riding on the Sammon's float with a bunch of other family friends. Each year the Sammons hold a St. Patrick's Day party where some of their closest friends ride on their float with them for the St. Patrick's Day parade. There is a crawfish boil afterward. My friends Sara Alice and Caroline B. and Chris Sammons were all there too. This year, the float read "Who's your paddy?" Sara Alice, Caroline, and I all sat on the float bathroom's roof, where we had a full view of all of the hoopla. Seeing the crowd of people gave me a rush of excitement. I loved seeing all of the different types of people and what they would do for beads or a toy football. One little boy raised his shirt and was shaking his belly all around.  I showered him with beads. Throwing beads to people and seeing their faces afterward made my day. Everyone looked so happy, and in return, I was ecstatic. I mostly threw footballs, and it was fun to point at people, them point back, send the football on it's way, then get a wink or smile in return. There is nothing quite like riding a float. Now I understand why my dad returns year after year to Mardi Gras in New Orleans to participate in many parades.