Ascension of Phoenix 1

Posted on by bayoucreole

Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite time of the year is carnival season. The sights and sounds of parades rolling down the streets of New Orleans is something that really brings me joy.

This season is very special to me because I’m not only a member of a new all-female carnival organization,I’m also a proud co-founder.

The Mystical Order of the Phoenix is pleased to announce Phoenix 1 as she rises into carnival history, and it makes my heart swell to be able to say Hail You to our Phoenix,the beautiful, Gemelle Martin Linzy!

PHOENIX 1

Gemelle was the first Queen of the Krewe of Diana in 1968, so it’s wonderful that she’s also a part of our Phoenix history as well.

Krewe of Diana 1968

She’s the owner of Martin Insurance Agency which has been in her family for many years and is located in the City Park area in New Orleans. Her ties to the city run as deep as her love of carnival.

We’ll be celebrating the Ascension of the Phoenix which is sure to be a lovely event, at Andrea’s Restaurant this Saturday, November 21st. Naturally,we’re using covid precautions because we want to celebrate safely.

All friends and family members are welcome to attend.Come join us as Phoenix 1 ascends into Mardi Gras history and the Mystical Order of the Phoenix takes flight.

My Nyx Ride 2020

Posted on by bayoucreole

I’ve been thinking about how I wanted to write about my ride for awhile now. If you have been keeping up with the news, you know that this season was marred with tragedies…one of which happened during our parade. That tragedy led to a number of Nyx riders not being able to complete their ride,

and a beautiful soul was lost.

I was on float 13 so I was able to complete the entire ride.

And because of that, there’s a conflict between my head and my heart.

How do you write about a ride that was so awesome, a pre-party that was the best one ever and a crowd that had been lined up on the streets since 9 am…waiting for the krewe to roll when your heart keeps pulling you to the poor soul who is no longer on this earth?

Someone told me that, she loved Mardi Gras…and she loved life. She was out there living her NOLA Life to the fullest.

I definitely understand that. I’m a NOLA Girl through and through too. So in her honor, I’m going to write this blog (and the rest of my Mardi Gras posts)and focus on the joy of the ride..the joy of the season.

The excitement that filled the city that Wednesday.

The people who couldn’t wait for the Mystic Krewe of Nyx to hit the streets and turn this city pink and black,

and the women who couldn’t wait to ride.

  • BRUNCH TIME!

Most of us were watching the weather like hawks. I think the forecast was 30% chance for rain that day, but in true NOLA form… people must have started with novenas and getting whatever good juju they could lay their hands on because, we were spared the rain AND the temperature was around 60 degrees.

Great weather equals large crowds and they were out there…DEEP.

Check in for our pre-party began at noon. Some of the ladies like to get together beforehand and have brunch. I began my day slow. I know it’s a marathon type of day so I don’t leave the house until I have to go check in.

Because I’m a float lieutenant, I have added duties so I usually check my bags(a kazillion times) to make sure everything is in there before I leave the house. Once I get to the Convention Center, I check in, find our section and wait for the riders on my float to show up.

This year was very interesting because I rode with laryngitis. My voice was totally gone.I had gotten sick on Sunday and by the time we rode Wednesday, I was so sick that I had to run to an Urgent Care and get a shot to make it through the ride.

My float riders are the best though. They took such good care of me…I’m so lucky to have them.

  • Check in at the pre party
Our Co-Captain, Lori (with the hat on)
and a rider.

The pre-party was on fire! This was my favorite one so far and I can’t wait til we ride in 2021 to see if it can get any better. The food was plentiful…and good! The drinks were flowing, and the music kept everyone on the dance floor.

Goddess Nyx IX in the center with float riders.
3,400 women waiting to hit the streets of New Orleans!
Sisters helping sisters prepare for the big event

I don’t know who the DJ was but he’s a keeper! My cousin who doesn’t like to dance, STAYED out there on the floor..so yeah…he has the magic touch.

And speaking of floor, let me just say that I LOVE HALL A at the Convention Center!

Why?

Because that hall has carpet! It makes a difference because we’re in there for about 4 hours. Walking around and dancing on a carpeted area was mercy on these old legs and feet of mine. Also, it gave the room a cozy feel. I absolutely love that hall.

Around 3 pm, they began to call the riders by float number to get on the buses parked outside. The buses took us to the lot where the floats were and then we rode the floats down to the line up area.

The ride to the lineup is one of my favorite things to do that day. Usually there are people just hanging out in front of their door or walking the street and they always wave when they see us passing.

I don’t know what it is, but something about seeing them before I get to the massive crowd of people on the route helps me to get ready for the joyous storm that lies ahead.

Man, when we started rolling though.

I knew the crowd was going to be thick, but I wasn’t ready for this one. This was the largest crowd ever…must have been close to 10 people deep. I did notice that the crowds were more aggressive this year. They told you exactly what they wanted from you. One of my riders had her headdress snatched off her head while she was bending down to get more throws.

Not cool at all.

But it’s only a small percentage of people who act this way. Majority of the people on the route are courteous, grateful and happy to see us out there.

And I appreciate you all so much. You all are the reason I ride…there’s nothing like seeing those happy faces staring back at you when you give someone something they didn’t expect to receive.

  • Turn on to Jefferson Ave. Time to throw!!
  • Captain’s Float
  • photo by Kris C.
    photo by Kris C.
  • photo by Kris C
    photo by Kris C
St. Charles and Canal Street

The crowds were thick the entire route. I ran out of throws (something I never do) and I’m a heavy thrower. I’ve already decided that I’m going to buy the largest package next year (so y’all come out and get those throws.) I know a lot of people like to buy throws and bring them to the floats, but I’ve been riding for 7 years now and the easiest thing to do is to purchase the bead packages. They’re loaded on the float for you and the way they’re packaged gives you more space.

A win-win in my book.

I’m looking forward to 2021… it will be the Mystic Krewe of Nyx’s 10th Anniversary.

10 whole years already.

Seems like yesterday I watched the krewe roll on the streets for the first time.

Seems like yesterday I was blogging about how I didn’t think I’d ever become a member…and here I am 7 years in and a proud float lieutenant.

Here we all are.

Here’s to 2021.

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!

Posted on by bayoucreole
ME AND YELLOW JACKET WAITING IN THE LINE UP AREA…HAIL NYX!!

WISHING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU A VERY HAPPY MARDI GRAS! Have a great day and be safe out there! Its been a rough season, take care of yourselves and your loved ones out there.

I’ll be blogging about it soon.

Rest In Paradise Dad

Posted on by bayoucreole

My dad passed away last Friday and I really don’t know how to process it. Last week I intended to write a blog about caring for the elderly and how hard it was to  care for  a strong-willed parent who refuses to give up driving. Last Thursday, my dad thought that he was strong enough to get behind the wheel of the car and I gave him the keys fully knowing that he would not make it out of the driveway. He didn’t and I think that’s when reality really set in for him and he realized that he was no longer independent.

The next day, he was gone.

I don’t know how to handle it quite yet. A part of me is relieved that he didn’t suffer. He lived over 88 years on this earth and I was blessed to have him for 55 of them.  He’s with my mom now and she probably asked him what took him so long as soon as he crossed over.  All 11 of his brothers and sisters have already crossed over as well as his parents and our Cocker Spaniel who loved my dad to pieces.  He is now in the presence of the Lord and I’m happy that he got to live his final days in the same house he purchased for his family in 1957.

And that I was able to care for him literally until his dying day.

I just miss him so much. He was my rock…the one person who would never let me fall…no matter what. In all my years and my many screw ups, not once did he ever judge me. He just picked me up, brushed me off and told me to start over.

He could be a pain in the ass…but he was my pain in the ass…and I loved him to infinity and beyond.

I was a daddy’s girl to the bittersweet end.

Living in the house that you grew up in can be a good and bad thing.  It’s great because it has so many memories tied into it.

It’s bad because…it has so many memories tied into it.

My dad used to sleep with his table lamp on…I still can’t turn it off.

My dad loved kool-aid and I was the only one who could fix it just like he liked it… I saw the kool-aid in the refrigerator and cried.

The holidays are right on our backs and I have to face this year without him. It’s gonna be hard.  I will probably do something in honor of him during that time…don’t know what yet.

My Nyx season is gonna be just a little less sweet. My dad looked forward to the Nyx Myx Ball so he could see what NavySeal and I were wearing.  He loved everything Nyx because he knew I did…and he supported any and everything I was ever into.

Saying goodbye to that kind of love and loyalty is hard.

I’m gonna try to keep living my best life to honor him and my mom though. I know that’s what they would want and so it shall be.