The world is filled with tribulation. Jesus said in John 16:33, “In the world, you will have tribulation.”

The Pioneer Library System is hosting its summer learning challenge (SLC) in Cleveland, McClain and Pottawatomie counties.

Music is breezing into Lions Park this spring and summer, starting today.

There is an interesting transition that occurs in the last half of Erikson’s eight stages of emotional development.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) joins with others to “fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families” (nami.org).

Oklahoma City blues vocalist Chanda Graham will be writing a new chapter in her history of performing in Norman.

Your UPS driver Robert Milam, Moore, Oklahoma native and is recognized for 25 years of safe driving.

Deputy Chief Mike Wilson spent his entire adult life at the Norman Fire Department. Now he’s entered a new chapter after retiring May 1.

The women of The Well are trained professionals in public health, local food sourcing and a variety of wellness-related topics. They are also all three mothers with children still in the home.

In stage four of Erik Erikson’s theory of emotional development, the critical issue is industry vs. inferiority.

There is a saying among gardeners in our area: if you can garden in Oklahoma, you can garden anywhere.

From Navajo hogans in northern Arizona to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the world is home to a wide range of places of worship. We once drove by a tiny roadside chapel near Austin, Minnesota, in which it would have been difficult to shoehorn more than a dozen worshippers. In Europe we strolled through huge cathedrals that could welcome thousands. During decades of travel we thought we had seen just about every type of worship facility.

Disgust, a sickening feeling of revulsion, thinking that yet again I have been scammed. At that same moment, an overwhelming sense of hopefulness hit me, that the gift I am offering might in some small or huge way lead to change and recovery.

Norman’s bedroom community of Goldsby is punching above its weight this month in the music scene department.

You’re in high school and want to graduate, but everything seems stacked against you. What do you do? Where can you turn for help?

National Travel and Tourism Week, an annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry, spotlighted the critical role that travel plays in driving economic growth and building the path forward through the theme Future of Travel.

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, and May 4-10 is Late Onset Hearing Loss Week.

Unique is a funny and over-used word. There are no comparatives for “unique” — no uniquer or uniquest, no more unique or most unique. It means one of a kind, nothing else like it, alone in the universe.

Norman has officially become the first city in Oklahoma with a poet laureate.

The lovely irises are finally blooming. Do you have irises in your landscape? With their colors and gray-green foliage, they can certainly put on a colorful show.

The third stage in Erik Erikson’s model for understanding emotional development is called initiative vs. guilt.

You don’t have to live in the country to raise chickens.

On April 22, 1889, more than 50,000 people were ready for one of the nation’s largest land-grabs: the Run of 89.

As we continue from last week, let’s look at Erik Erikson’s second stage of emotional development.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance has been around for almost a century and a half, but with its clever lyrics and rousing choruses, it’s still delighting audiences.

The Jazz in June Festival has found a permanent home at Andrews Park.

It is now Holy Week for Christians worldwide. The greatest drama of all time happened during this week.

Over the last few months, a group of families has quietly made Norman their new home.

Anthony Obiawunaotu, aka Fat Tony (FT), knows that it’s communities of people who make art. Indeed, communities make everything in this world happen.

Norman Animal Welfare Pet of the Week: Teddy

Spring activities will continue with Norman’s spring candy and egg hunt returning to Andrews Park this Friday.

This year, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History’s annual Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair will be hosted virtually, similar to last year’s fair.

A free class series coming up at The Well at 6 p.m. Thursdays, April 14, through June 2 is of vital importance to wellness.

Spring is here and your local garden center has new perennial plants for you.

I have read some intriguing books about Heaven.

Warren Realrider was all ears as a kid growing up in Pawnee County.

Scheduled for its debut to the general public April 21 at the Oklahoma History Center is the second volume of award-winning author John J. Dwyer’s history of Oklahoma, “The Oklahomans: The Story of Oklahoma and Its People.”

To my knowledge, the only pirates who ever visited Penzance were the creations of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Meals on Wheels of Norman has announced the commitment of 32 local businesses to the organization’s 2022 Adopt-A-Route partnership program.

Spring is in the air, and the Norman Farm Market opened yesterday at The Well, 210 S. James Garner Ave.

Cloudy and windy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 59F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph..

Partly cloudy. Low 47F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.

Beads come in many colors, sizes and styles, from small beads to large, beads with themes, and krewe beads.

This young man successfully snagged a load of throws from beads and sunglasses to toys.

Participants spend hours loading beads and other throws on Mardi Gras floats.

Elaine Warner models a Dennis Beckman creation at The Enchanted Garden.

King Cakes are the dessert of choice during Mardi Gras.

The Lake Charles Gala gives guests a look at the most elaborate of royal regalia.

Kids love participating in the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Parade.

The Mardi Gras Museum in Lake Charles has the largest collection of Mardi Gras regalia in the South.

Beads come in many colors, sizes and styles, from small beads to large, beads with themes, and krewe beads.

This young man successfully snagged a load of throws from beads and sunglasses to toys.

Participants spend hours loading beads and other throws on Mardi Gras floats.

Elaine Warner models a Dennis Beckman creation at The Enchanted Garden.

King Cakes are the dessert of choice during Mardi Gras.

The Lake Charles Gala gives guests a look at the most elaborate of royal regalia.

Kids love participating in the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Parade.

The Mardi Gras Museum in Lake Charles has the largest collection of Mardi Gras regalia in the South.

You may not have noticed, but we’re in Carnival season — the pre-Lenten celebration that begins with Twelfth Night and ends on Mardi Gras (March 1).

For family-friendly festivities, I recommend Shreveport or Lake Charles, Louisiana.

While you may be able to catch a parade any weekend, the closer to Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, the day preceding Ash Wednesday), the wider the choices for activities.

The major events are produced by krewes, private groups who sponsor balls, parades or both. The most public of the celebrations are parades. Floats are massive, elaborate and carry celebrants who throw treats — most often beads — to crowds that line the parade routes.

Parades scheduled for Shreveport include the Feb. 13 Parade of Barkus and Meoux at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds. There is a nominal charge — $1 — to attend the event, which includes the pet parade, decorated golf carts and battery-powered, kiddy vehicles. Lots of food trucks add to the fun.

The Krewe of Centaur Parade marches out Feb. 19, and the Krewe of Gemini Parade is scheduled for Feb. 26. Veteran parade watchers pick spots along the routes early, bringing folding chairs or finding spots in parking lots so they can back up their trucks and set up in the truck bed. Most people spend the parade standing, with arms up, calling, “Throw me something, mister.”

The goal for many is to collect as many “throws” as possible. I’ve seen little kids so loaded with beads that only their heads and hands stick out. Greedier attendees bring baskets or fish nets for catching flying beads, moon pies, plastic toys, etc.

Lucky people — and I was one — get a bird’s eye view from atop a float. It’s a real dance keeping up with holding handfuls of beads and throwing them. While we had to keep up rapid-fire throwing, I never threw to the basket people, always tried to aim for small children.

On Feb. 27, those in the know will head for the Highland neighborhood for the Krewe of Highland Parade. In the past, the most popular throws were foil wrapped hot dogs. I’m not sure they’ll get to throw those this year.

This parade is a combination of some of the large floats, marchers, kids on bikes and fun, home-made creations.

Also Feb. 27, Marilynn’s Place is party central. Once a filling station, this popular eatery throws a great Mardi party. There’ll be boiled crawfish, red beans, beignets and more — all to the tune of a zydeco band.

To prepare properly for the celebrations, I recommend two stops.

First is Tubbs Hardware and Cajun Gifts. The Tubbs family was instrumental in bringing the Mardi Gras tradition to Shreveport. So in addition to hardware, a good portion of their stores are dedicated to all things Carnival. You’ll find walls with beads hanging from floor to ceiling.

I asked Kenneth Tubbs to estimate the number of bead strings he had. The answer was complicated. There are hundreds of variations on Mardi Gras beads — regular throws, beads with accessories, pearl beads, krewe beads and so many more.

Of the beads I have collected, most are simple throws, but I also have beads with alligators, shrimp, fishermen’s boots, even a string with a music box.

Tubbs estimated that they have tens of thousands of beads. There are also, tiaras, funny hats, masks, noisemakers and all sorts of party accessories.

The second do-not-miss spot is The Enchanted Garden. I do not enjoy shopping. The Enchanted Garden, owned by Deb Cockrell, is the one place that could make me change my mind.

It’s full of gorgeous gifts, unique apparel, soaps, lotions, toys and seasonal specialties. Mardi Gras items — you bet.

The masks at The Enchanted Garden are art. Created by Dennis Beckman, these gorgeous, handmade masks range from small ones (I bought a little black and silver, music-themed beauty for a reasonable price) to elaborate, feathered and jeweled masks with towering head pieces.

Mardi Gras in Lake Charles is much like Shreveport — balls, parades and lots of beads. To me, the most impressive thing about Mardi Gras there is the gala.

This is an open-to-the-public, inexpensive evening where royalty from all the krewes parade in exquisite finery. You won’t see these outfits in the parades. They’re strictly for indoors, the krewe balls and the gala.

The gala was canceled this year, but they’re looking forward to returning it next year.

No matter what time of year, visitors can get a big taste of Lake Charles Mardi Gras by visiting the Mardi Gras Museum.

In a former school building, fabulous costumes line the main hallway, and the classrooms now are filled with exhibits on every aspect of Mardi Gras from costume and float design to the history of King Cakes.

Ah, King Cake, a highlight of the season. The tradition is said to have originated in 12th century France, when, on the Twelfth Night after Christmas (Three Kings Day), this special treat would be served.

The base is a raised dough baked in a circle or oval to represent the circuitous path of the Wise Men, filled or unfilled, topped with icing and decorated with gold, green and purple sugar.

Tucked into the cake is a tiny baby. The person who gets the piece with the baby is supposed to supply a King Cake the next year.

Tubbs in Shreveport sells at least 10,000 of their original recipe King Cakes (more moist, more filling than the average cake) each year, and they ship.

I have to put in a plug for my favorite source — Rao’s Bakery in Beaumont, Texas.

They have sent me one for the past several years, complete with beads for decorating and, of course, a baby.

I planned to go Mardi Gras again this year, but I couldn’t imagine social distancing at a parade. Shreveport is an easy day’s drive, and the last weekend is the best, but you might prefer planning for next year.

If you’re feeling creative, visit bit.ly/3Hqa5zZ for recipes. Me, I’m sitting here hoping a King Cake will arrive soon.

Jack Winston Lawter, Norman, 94, passed away May 18, 2022. Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, May 23rd at First Christian Church, 220 S. Webster Ave., Norman, OK. Online condolences may be shared at www.tribute.care (405-292-4787).

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