Reporter's Note: I write to President Obama every day, even on holidays like this one.

Dear Mr. President,

Happy Mardi Gras! I certainly hope you enjoyed some good jambalaya and perhaps a King Cake to mark the occasion. Although, come to think of it, I’m sure someone in the opposition would have some crack to make if you strayed near anything with “king” in the title.

We almost missed the holiday at our house, and that is remarkable considering how much it means to us. I think we were distracted by Presidents' Day being so darn close to it, and the relentless string of political events this year, and the rising cost of gas…or something else. I don’t know. I just know that we let it slip up on us and we wound up hustling around today to hoist a few decorations and hang our Mardi Gras flag out front of our house.

Years ago, when we lived in New Orleans, it was hard to remember that the rest of the nation was largely not involved when Mardi Gras came around. It seemed so normal to have parades every night, special dinners, and overflowing baskets of beads everywhere, it was hard to imagine that not everyone else was enjoying the same scene. But that’s the way it goes with such matters.

If you’re in the middle of a blizzard, it’s hard to recall that it is summer on the other side of the globe. If you’re suffering a drought, who can think that flooding is underway in some other state?

Anyway, thank goodness we came to our senses and put some Professor Longhair on the stereo before the day passed us by. You have to grab your happiness where you may, even in difficult days, and woe unto the soul who passes an opportunity to pass a good time…they are rare enough, these days.

Call if you can.

Regards,
Tom