The Happiest Place On Earth

I'm back. Yes I have been away too long but it is not my fault. I have to blame it all on Southeast Louisiana, now it is said Disneyland is the "Happiest Place On Earth", put I have to say that is misinformation, Southeast Louisiana is that place.

Now, I am not dissing any other part of the lovely state of Louisiana, they are just as beautiful and I am sure fun as well, but here in the Southeast, they get it in. Mardi Gras was such a whirl wind of fun, folks, food, and parades. The overwhelming plans and preparation and the never ending gymnastics associated with "Throw Me Something Mister", it is just unbelievable. I have had such a ball ripping and running dodging and catching going and going. What with never wanting to miss a parade and reconnecting with friends and family by the time the last doubloon falls and the last necklace caught you are definitely ready to enter into the quite penitent period of Lent.

And just when you are regaining a sense of quite and calm, St Patrick starts it all up again. Who knew. Well sure lots and lots of folks knew, but I have always been away working somewhere and never aware of the fabulous fun that awaited the celebration of St. Patrick and the Irish. Never ever have I had the joy of catching cabbages and potatoes and carrots and onions and garlic along with the myriad of green cups, beads, throws, things that light up and things that make noise and cuddly stuffed toys in such abundance that one literally gets tired of catching things. I hauled home enough vegetables to create a magnificent St. Patrick's Day Feast; everything but the corned beef.

Now if that wasn't enough, the block parties and dancing in the street didn't diminish, the Irish teamed up with the Italians and took the party to levels unheard of. I am sure I witnessed the longest parade in the history of the world, catching goodies all the way! Thank goodness for St. Joseph Day, it created a place of quite that could return you to the contemplation of Lent. But just as the contemplation began, so did my churches Fish Fry. I arrived just in time to get some of the best fried catfish and join the wobble line. And even though I am not any good at a line dance, if my church is wobbling, I'm there. And yes, I am Catholic from the cradle to the grave. Though I grew up Catholic in Los Angeles, being Catholic in Louisiana brings a much more complete appreciation of the religion. So all and all as we approach the most sacred time in Lent for Catholics, this has been for me, a raucous, crazy great time.

So, while Disneyland professes to be the "Happiest Place On Earth", Southeast Louisiana does it for me.

Though historically the Mason/Dixon Line is the demarcation of the Eastern part of the United States that would remain free states and the Southern part of the United States that would be slave states, in popular culture the Mason/Dixon line is that empirical boundary that separates the North from the South and for my soul stirrings, from the West as well.

Crown Stones are markers placed at every fifth mile of the Mason Dixon Line bearing the family coat of arms of the state it faced.