We Go WAY back...
Many years ago on Joe Cain Day in Mobile, I found myself at my son, Eric’s gig on Dauphin Street at the Riverboat Bar & Grill where he played frequently in those days. If you are not familiar with Mobile and Mardi Gras, you may not be aware that Joe Cain was the founder of Mardi Gras (long before it erupted in New Orleans). Each year on the Sunday before Mardi Gras Day we celebrate Joe Cain Day, in his honor. It is The day of the common man. This day was originally created for people who are not in any of the established Mardi Gras Societies. People from all walks of life celebrate on Joe Cain Day with parades and costumes and all sorts of rowdy, party fun. The streets of Mobile are full of party goers and people ready to eat, drink and be merry.
Well the Riverboat, like most of the other establishments downtown was packed. I was at my regular table trying to stay out of the mix of people as they pushed in and pushed out and danced, hooted and hollered for hours.
I had seen many of my friends and some of my relatives as they came and went throughout the afternoon. I was talking to a friend who was sharing my table when a woman pushed through the crowd and spied an empty space on our table and immediately plopped down something wrapped in aluminum foil. I looked over and smiled at her and she smiled back.
She looked a bit weary and tired as I fully understood in all that enormous crowd downtown and almost no place to rest your achy bones. She appeared to me to be close to my age, I was 50ish at the time. Her hair was salt & pepper gray and it looked like it may have been up in a twist at one time but most of the twist was now untwisted, leaving big strands of drooping hair that fell in all directions as it pleased. I scooted a free chair her way that I had held onto in case my brother showed up. She looked like she could really use the rest. She eagerly took a seat.
Eric was playing his heart out and singing and at that time, he had a bubble machine that was working overtime blowing bubbles out into the crowd and adding to the festivities of the day. I had forgotten that he had a banner behind him that had a caricature of him and his name in big letters above the cartoonish picture of him. E R I C was written in an unusual font that featured the letter C more open, looking a bit like an L but everyone knew it was ERIC. This banner was made by his friend and fellow musician Chico as a gift and we loved it.
The lady with the aluminum foil sitting at my table began to talk as she unwrapped her foil to reveal several pieces of home fried chicken. She bit into that chicken like nobody’s business; my thoughts were that she must have been starving. Then she reached in her purse and grabbed some sliced bread that was smashed almost beyond recognitions and she supplemented her meal with the bread. As she ate and talked at the same time, I asked if she needed something to drink. She snapped her fingers, reached back in her large purse and pulled out a beer. I looked over at my friend Amy and nearly laughed, but it was really wise of her to come prepared, it just seemed so odd to me at the time.
Just then she elbowed me to get my attention, and pointed towards Eric as I looked around at her. She said, “This guy is good, don’t you think?” I smiled and said “I sure do.” She took another huge bite of bread, it looked like an entire slice but it was hard to tell due to the smashed effect from being in her purse. Eric finished the song he was playing and she, my friend and I all applauded.
It was about that time that she said, “I’ve watched this guy before, he’s always been good.” Then she added, “He and I go way back.” I smiled at her and said, “He and I also go way back.”
She looked right at me and Amy and said, “Well I have known ERIL for years!” I told her I was sure his name is ERIC, not ERIL. She stared back at me like I had lost my mind. Then she went back to enjoying her meal and beer. Eventually she eased on off into the crowd.
That was a long long day, but I knew it would be. There was a lot of people there but everyone was having fun and peaceful. I actually enjoyed the little lady with her chicken and smashed bread. I don’t believe I had ever seen her before and I know I haven’t seen her since. I suspect she still believes Eric’s name is ERIL. Chico did a wonderful job on that banner but if he ever decides to make another banner, I will ask him to use different font.
One more Joe Cain Day was over and I drug my tired butt home.
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