CAA -->Carnival Addicts Anonymous

Hi, my name is Nelly and I am a carnivalholic!

Cropover 2011 pic--I haven't uploaded all my pics from Trini yet, sadly. It hurts to much to look at them. : (

No, I am not exaggerating. Yes, I have a problem, I am addicted to CARNIVAL. I am not even sure when my addiction got to this level.  I have always loved every aspect of carnival. I have loved Soca music as long as I can remember. I can remember my dad playing calypso in the car as we drove long distances and I would sing the lyrics to "Boots", "Teaser", "Nani Wine"and "Tiney Winey" in my head happily ( I did not discover the world of hip hop until I was in middle school).  I loved visiting my Mother and Father's birth places (Trinidad and Barbados) and I can vividly remember how sad I was the year I could not go to Trinidad for the summer because of the Coup. I have always loved playing Mas. Picking costumes. Touching the beads and feathers, wearing the elaborate headpieces. But I have no idea when it got to the point where I felt like I would simply not survive the year if I did not participate in A carnival. This year I went to Trinidad  for carnival and I had the TIME of my LIFE,  I was not disappointed and for some people that is enough. NOT me! So far I  plan to attend 4 Carnivals this summer and participate in at least 1. I know:

Nelly is going H.A.M.

Honestly, sometimes I feel guilty. Shouldn't I have other interests? Shouldn't I save more money? Shouldn't I try to visit Europe, Fiji, Africa,  or Australia this year instead (I would like to visit these places, honestly)? As the people say, LOVE IS BLIND (Ok, that saying may not make total sense, but you get my point). When I hear soca playing, and I am surrounded by hundreds of other people singing along. When I am in the midst of a crowd all waving flags in the same direction. When I am surrounded by my Caribbean people, eating a roti, drinking sorrel, and having a time. I feel at peace. I feel at home. I feel happy.  And I guess that's all that matters. ; )

So look out for plenty of posts and updates as I prepare and plan for Barbados' Crop Over (Yes, I am going again this year), Atlantic City's first attempt at carnival (we will see how that goes), St. Lucia's Carnival (Thanks to Nyree of thesweet7 who convinced me that this is a must do) , and Brooklyn's Labor Day Parade (hey, I live here)!

I apologize in advance...

; )

Nelly

Btw...If you plan on attending any of these carnivals PLEASE contact me! I would love to meet other carnival addicts ....