I am officially a curmudgeon.

[trof]

Or a geezer.
Or a humorless old man.
Or something.
I'm 63.
And a half.
My sense of "fun" has changed quite a lot since I was in my 20s and 30s.

I discovered that at a Mardi Gras parade today.
I felt like such a stick-in-the-mud for not accompanying Miz t. and friends to parades last week, so today I went. There was another couple and a stag lady friend. We're all in our 60s.

The parade was in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Thirty minutes before parade time (10 a.m.) we found a good spot in a restaurant parking lot and set up our folding chairs streetside.
It began to drizzle. In a few minutes the drizzle became rain. I went to the car for the two umbrellas I keep in the back. Gave them to the four parade addicts, said "See ya", and returned to the car. Boy, this is fun.

I sat in the car, listening to the radio, for about half an hour. Just as the beginning of the parade reached us, the overcast lightened a bit, and the rain fizzled down to a very light mist. I walked back to the group. It had been a blowing rain, and they were soaked from the waists down. Dripping. I just don't get it.

So I'm standing there, and the floats are passing by, my wife and friends are jumping up and down and screaming"HEY MISTER! THROW ME SOMETHING! BEADS! BEADS! BEADS! MOON PIE! MOON PIE!". I was greatly relieved that Miz t. didn't lift her shirt and "show boobs".

So I'm standing a few feet behind them, watching them go nuts with this thing, and if a string of beads is gonna whap me in the head I catch them. Purely a defensive maneuver. They're down scrabbling in the street, picking up the stuff they couldn't catch on the fly, and I'm thinking "What in the hell am I doing here? I'm a f*cking grown man...strike that...I'm beyond a 'grown man', I'm a "senior citizen", a bleeding geezer. I don't give a ratzass about this and how could they?"

I dunno.
I guess I've lost my sense of...what? The ridiculous? No, I still have a great sense of the ridiculous. The current administration is a case in point. That's ridiculous. A sense of childish wonder? Childish enthusiasm? Childish glee at getting cheap doo-dads FREE?

I think I'd enjoy a parade with some little kids in tow. Watching them would be fun. But a bunch of senior citizens going ape over this just is beyond me.
:shrug:

[babylonsister]

1. I agree, trof. I was in New Orleans in December,

first time in years, and I could care less about all the cheap crap thrown our way. We turned tail and headed the other way. Not much point to it, if you ask me.

[Kikosexy2]

6. I don't...

flash my goods for cheap jewelry!

[trof]

7. Neither do I.

But I might do it for a new boat.
Maybe.
Depends on the boat, I guess.

[trof]

18. That's how I feel.

Great for drunken youngsters and little kids.
I was both at various times in my life.
Now I just like to watch them.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. But, you're cute. And the fact that you like children saves you from

curmudgeonliness. :)

[trof]

3. I admit that I'm cute.

But I've never posted a picture, so how did you know that?
Psychic?
Wow.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. Or psychotic. One of the two.

I'm never quite sure. ;)

[Padraig18]

5. I agree, Laura.

If you like kids, you can't be a curmudgeon.

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Paddy!! How are you feeling?

Much better I hope. My thoughts are still with you. :hug:

[trof]

14. Depends on whether you like 'em on the half shell or

deep fried.
Thanks to W. C. Fields for the inspiration.
;-)

[Kikosexy2]

4. Lighten up...

Daddy-O...you may be old in age but be young at heart! You're retired..so have FUN!!!

[trof]

19. Fairy tales could come true.

It could happen to you,
if you're young at heart.

Couldn't resist.

[FreepFryer]

8. Boobs and Beads. A timeless tradition. Gotta say, I found it fun.

It's a unique part of New Orleans, and if you're in the right frame of mind, you can enjoy the collective hypnosis.

If not, you can sit in the car and listen to the radio.

Either way, life is rich!

[trof]

9. We're not in NOLA.

New Orleans is a whole nuther thang.
And I wouldn't be there during Mardi Gras on a bet.
This is small town Alabama.
BTW, Mobile is the birthplace of Mardi Gras.
You could look it up.

[FreepFryer]

12. 'kay, so you prove my point.

And your own. Yes, Virginia... you are a curmudgeon. ;)

[trof]

13. Thank you.

Point proved.

[DainBramaged]

15. Don't feel bad

I was asked by a younger friend to do him a favor today, and he ended his request with "it's always good to give old people something to do'. :mad:

[trof]

17. Well, we need to keep occupied.

Or pacified.
Or something.
;-)

[DainBramaged]

20. I will not go quietly into the night

The engine may be wearing out, but the computer is still 100%.

[nickgutierrez]

16. If that's what it takes to be a curmudgeon...

Then, at the ripe old age of 21, I fear I'm close to crossing the line.

For my sake, I'd hope not. :hi: