Over the last few weeks I’ve covered several of the krewes here in the Miss-Lou and here are two more, one new and one &045; well, old is not the right word, so let’s say, not as new as some we’ve covered.

In the new category we have the Krewe of Diamonds from a local jewelry store. I hear these ladies will be in the Phoenix parade but not throwing real diamonds. Too bad, I might have gotten off my float for that event. I also was told their duchesses have wonderful names such as The Duchess of Peridot and The Duchess of Blue Topaz, among others. Be sure you keep an eye out for these fancy ladies, I have a feeling they will be spectacular.

A few years back (I’m not sure if I’m supposed to tell when) local girl Gwen McCalip was getting ready for her fortieth birthday and also for a way to celebrate it. And so, the Over-the-Hill Krewe was born. Since it was her birthday and she rented the float McCalip was the first queen of the 26-member group. Dressed in all black, they celebrate each year with their theme of &uot;Over-the-Hill and On a Roll.&uot;

Now that each of the members has had a turn to be the queen for a year they have proclaimed themselves all queens for life. Not only do the ladies have a favorite toast, &uot;buttered toast, cheese toast, cinnamon toast, French toast, milk toast, melba toast, burnt toast, Comatose!&uot; But they also have a favorite song which is &uot;Friends in Low Places&uot; by Garth Brooks.

This Krewe holds a luncheon on the day of the Phoenix parade and the rumor mill has it that some famous people, such as Garth Brooks, Whoopi Goldberg, Diana Ross and the Supremes singing R-E-S-P-EC-T, have shown up there. This lively Krewe manages to celebrate year round with theme parties such as &uot;Breakfast at Tiffany’s&uot; where long gloves and cigarette holders were de rigueur. And I do believe Mrs. McCalip mentioned something about their trips to New Orleans. But that is another column unto itself.

All the Krewes we have covered over the last few weeks have had one common theme, the ability to have a good time and participate in something positive in Natchez. I can’t wait to see each of them in the parades.

One thing about the parades I would like to point out, especially to those with small kids: Please do not allow your children to run out into the street and certainly not up to the float itself. I was amazed during the Christmas parade how many parents stood idly by while their children ran up to our float.

I encourage everyone on every float to only throw to those children and adults who remain at the sides of the street. Speaking of adults, another thing I cannot believe how often I saw during the Christmas parade was the image of grown-ups snatching beads from the hands of children.

I guess there’s not a whole lot to say on that one, because if you are the kind of person who would do that you probably don’t give 2 cents for what I would have to say about it. So come on out Friday evening for the Krewe of Alpheus parade and next Friday afternoon for the Krewe of Phoenix parade, be safe and have fun.

Christina Hall

can be reached at

Christina.hall@natchezdemocrat.com

.