Everyone loves a parade

Since the parade, my Google Alerts has captured several blogspots, flickr postings and many mentions of the parade. Opening these is always a wonderful surprise and intensely satisfying as they validate all of our hard work and serve to keep away the post-parade blues. It's super cool to see how many strangers we touched and what delight they had in experiencing what I like to think of as New Orleans street theater. The most fun and rewarding postings to read are by the folks who came across the parade by chance. How I envy those people that moment when they notice a woman dressed as Joan on a horse, riding through the French Quarter...or they catch a glimpse of a group of people walking with flickering candles...

I also feel warm and fuzzy in a civic sense, as I think we're giving the City of New Orleans a gift that keeps on giving beyond our 30 minute procession. One krewe member said her physical therapist brought her two girls, age nine and eleven, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! to the French Quarter to see our parade. They came down early, shopped, had hot chocolate and beignets at Cafe du Monde, then caught the parade. If that doesn't warm your tourist industry heart and give the "be a tourist in your own hometown" sentiment some real encouragement and solid proof, I don't know what will!

Below is just a sampling of what's been showing up in my in-box. Thanks to all of you who took time to post words and photos of your experience! You encourage us and assist us by offering your perspective--and hopefully you inspire others to come out for future parades!


THIS HISTORY PROFESSOR HAPPENED TO BE SITTING AT CAFE DU MONDE AND HEARD WOLGEMUT'S PIPES LEADING OUR PARADE...NATURALLY, HE RAN AFTER THE SOUND!

http://civilwarlibrarian.blogspot.com/2011/01/cwl-on-road-happy-599th-birthday-joan.html

THIS LOCAL LITERARY BLOGGER WROTE ABOUT JEANNE D'ARC's SOUL SISTER, EMILY DICKINSON, BEFORE HEADING OUT TO CELEBRATE JOAN'S BIRTHDAY WITH US

http://emilyeveryday.com/

THIS LUCKY BRITISH FELLOW WAS TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND STUMBLED UPON US...WOULD JOAN BE AMUSED TO SEE THIS PHOTO OF OUR JOANIE ON THE PONY LOOKING QUITE PISSED OFF...PERHAPS AT THE BRITS?

http://earth2010.typepad.co.uk/photos/39_new_orleans_and_the_tr/joan-of-arc-parade.html

THIS NEW ORLEANIAN CAME FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WROTE AN EXCELLENT "DIARY" OF THE EXPERIENCE

http://www.artbymags.com/

THIS LOCAL BLOGGER TOOK SOME KILLER SHOTS--WOW--MYSTICAL MAGICAL STUFF!

http://kimberlespins.blogspot.com/2011/01/3656jan-6.html