By By Adrienne McKenzie
I have now experienced all of the traditional Mardi Gras activities that I ever knew were possible and must say that I have had the time of my life doing so.
On Feb. 10 I went to my very first Mardi Gras Ball at the Wisteria that was hosted by the Ladies of Essence. As I mentioned in last week's column, the guests at the ball were very open and welcoming towards me and I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the event.
This past Saturday I attended the Ladies of Essence annual Mardi Gras parade where I met a swarm of new faces, along with a few I have seen before. I enjoyed taking pictures of all the floats and it was obvious that the people participating in the parade took pleasure in the thought of having their pictures in the paper.
Brenda Watkins is the president of the Ladies of Essence and she has been an absolute pleasure to meet and get to know. She has been very accepting and understanding of me and the million questions about the Ladies of Essence I have thrown at her. She is a joy to know and I am sure I will enjoy working with her when the Ladies of Essence have more events.
The Mardi Gras parade was a blast. I had countless moon pies, tons of candy and flocks of beaded necklaces thrown in my direction. However, I think my favorite part of the parade was when the horseback riders strolled by. I think that horses are beautiful and that it is great that they were incorporated into the parade.
At the parade I spoke with Mayor Howard Shell, whom I formally met at the Mardi Gras Ball. He also has been a delightful individual to meet. He is an incredibly friendly gentleman and he has been so very hospitable to me since my transition into the Atmore community.
Some more prominent people I have encountered throughout the town that were at the parade who have been incredibly welcoming are councilmen Louie Turner III and John Watkins. I also met these individuals at the Mardi Gras Ball and they were kind enough to allow me to take their photos and to sit at their table.
Also I have had a number of opportunities to interview and take photos of Atmore Fire and Rescue Chief Gerry McGhee, who has promised me a ride in one of the fire trucks. He could be one of the funniest men I have met throughout this area and I know that if I am ever in any kind of trouble I could give him a call for help.
To all of the above mentioned, I appreciate your friendly faces and your kind spirits toward me. People like you are the reasons why I enjoy this small town so much.
As for the rest of the parade; kudos to those who decorated the floats. I know first-hand, due to four homecoming parades in high school, how difficult a task and what a hassle float building can be. However, the floats in the Mardi Gras parade looked amazing. I look forward to next year's Mardi Gras festivities and am excited about all of the great people I have met in this town and anticipate meeting many more of you.
Adrienne McKenzie is a reporter for the Atmore Advance. She can be reached at 368-2123.