MARDI GRAS TIME

On February 20, 1962, my friend, Jack and I left for the Mardi Gras. I lived in San Diego then. After three days of steady driving we arrived in New Orleans. It was raining. I hoped that it would stop. To have the parade called off because of rain would be disapp- einting. We found a place to stay on Tulane Ave., a- bout 12 blocks from downtown. On the 25 of February we did some sight seeing of New Orleans. In the French section there is a place called Pirate's alley and artist will paint your picture for you. The 26th. was the big day. After breakfast I went back to the room and chan- ged into my Lilac checked dress, but it was so cold that day that before I went downtown, I changed into a full cotton skirt and sweater. I had to take a street car to the center of town. It was my first ride on a street car as a girl. The ride down town was uneventful. I soon found out that I could go and do most anything as a girl. I had free run of the town.

One time in the morning when I was on St. Charles St., I over heard two women talking just after they had spotted a boy dressed as a girl, but who was not convin- cing, "you will see a lot of that here". I was only a- bout four feet from them. I don't know if they saw thro ugh me or not, and I didn't ask them.

I walked up and down the streets, ate in the rest- aurants and just had a good time. Later on in the afternoon when I should not have been as convincing, I felt some one playing with my hair. I turned around and the woman who was playing with it then asked in a round about way if it was a wig. She was not sure if I was a man or woman. Later on I got her to take a pic- of me with my movie camera.

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One place I went into for a coke the woman could

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