GULF SHORES, Ala. — This year I went to the Fat Tuesday parades in south Baldwin County. This was the first time I had gone to the parades in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

I have been to the parades in Mobile and New Orleans since I was a child. The parades in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach were very nice. I was surprised at the size of the parades and floats.

I hope that south Baldwin County’s Fat Tuesday tradition continues to grow.

However, I was not impressed by the behavior of some of those who were watching the parades with us.

In Gulf Shores we had to help parents protect young children from the behavior of three people who were beside us. We gave some of our throws to those children because we thought they were being treated unfairly by these three people.

The three people were not what you might expect.

They were not teens or tweens; they were retirees from the north.

Perhaps this was their first Mardi Gras experience. Because they are new to our area and our customs I am sure they are not aware of Mardi Gras etiquette. I hope this list will help them to behave themselves more appropriately at future parades.

Congratulations to all those who put on the parades in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, you guys did a great job!

If we can teach our older visitors to use a little Mardi Gras etiquette, south Baldwin County’s Fat Tuesday parades will surly be a “family friendly” event.

Emily Langley

Foley