This is a Mardi Gras opinion cartoony thing.

I was a Mardi Gras virgin when I first came to Mobile in the summer of 2000.

By February of 2001, my employers at the Mobile Register (it later became the Press-Register) thought it was high time for me to get Mardi Gras baptized. So, instead of drawing daily editorial cartoons, for the better part of two weeks I walked the streets with my sketchbook and watched every parade that rolled through downtown Mobile. I drew at least a dozen cartoons. It was an eye-opening blast. And I will always remember my first time.

Here are six, including the featured cartoon above, I found in the archives.

Happy Fat Tuesday, y’all.

More Mobile Mardi Gras content

JD Crowe: A classic Super Bowl Sunday Mardi Gras Merry Widow moment – al.com

Who loved Joe the best? For 50th time, Merry Widows to gather for a Mardi Gras tradition – al.com

‘My favorite day of the year:’ Callaghan’s, Grayson Capps and a Mardi Gras tradition – al.com

Recent JD Crowe cartoons

Nick Saban joining ESPN is a College GameDay name changer – al.com

Latest Alabama star in transfer portal hits Nick Saban hard – al.com

Taylor Swift Super Bowl conspiracy theory: What MAGAt can resist? – al.com

True stories and stuff by JD Crowe

The mysterious ‘Bubble Guy’ of Fairhope and the art of bubble Zen – al.com

How I met Dr. Seuss

Robert Plant head-butted me. Thanks, David Coverdale

I was ZZ Top’s drummer for a night and got kidnapped by groupies

Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @[email protected].

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