Lorel Gonzales has been going to the Krewe of Lul parade as long as it’s been around – this will be its 48th year – and she said that time has been full of fond memories.
She’ll make a few more this Saturday – but from a different vantage point than usual. Gonzales will reign as Grand Marshal of the krewe this year, an honor she never expected but is quite looking forward to.
“I was kind of in shock when Randy Lauve and his son Garrett asked me if I’d like to ride as Grand Marshal,” said Gonzales. “And I asked, ‘Really? Why?’”
But after her surprise subsided, she accepted the invitation and is now eager for the good times to roll.
“It’s getting closer and I’m pretty excited now,” Gonzales said. “I’ve rode in parades before, the Luling parade a few times a long time ago and some city parades. I enjoyed myself. But this is the first time (as royalty).”
Gonzales will know plenty of people on the route, and not simply because she’s lived in St. Charles Parish all her life. Gonzales was an integral part of the parish’s school system – she retired as one of just two people to have served as principal of both Hahnville and Destrehan high schools.
She wrapped up her career in education as HHS principal, a full circle moment for the Hahnville High alum – when she attended Hahnville as a student, she was a member of the band, and seeing the Hahnville band marching at the Krewe of Lul annually always ranks as one of her favorite parts of the parade.
“Hopefully we’ll have some good weather,” Gonzales said. “It will be nice to see some people I haven’t seen in a long time. I live here in the community, but there are people I haven’t seen in years, and seeing them out on the route will be neat.”
Something she remembers fondly from her years of enjoying the Lul festivities is bringing her mother to the parade.
“My mother loved it,” said Gonzales. “She loved being with her friends and so we went to where her friends were. She just loved that. And I’ve always loved them, too, especially the local ones. We went into the city when I was younger, but I haven’t done that for a long time. But the Luling parade has been a constant.”
Her throws will have a theme to them. Gonzales organizes events for the Busy Bees activities group at Luling’s Holy Family Catholic Church, and a lot of the items she’ll have are designed with a “bee” theme.
“I have some cups with a design that my niece drew for it,” Gonzales said. “There are pictures that kind of illustrate things I’ve done, like the bees, being a teacher and a principal and other things that relate to education. I’m getting ready.”
