Image Up Advertising & Design

8 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2015 foUr SEaSonS SPotLiGHt Mardi Gras & Amazing Parking Lot Party The purple, green and gold lights lit up the Social Committee's Mardi Gras with a special mystic which could only be described as electric. There was face painting, and marshmallow shooter booths and of course dancing all night long. The food was delicious and Thomas' Catering did a great job keeping the menu authentic to the New Orleans theme. Here's to real bourbon pecan pie! Betty Ann James and Verlett Brummell did a good job getting everything together. The unexpected part of this party was the fact that a resident do-gooder named Thomas Cole and his beautiful wife Ima Fibbin, offered to not only help with the final touches on the décor, but they also offered to be the Mardi Gras King and Queen. Toward the end of the night after most of the set-up was put away and torn down, it came out that Thomas Cole was the grandson of Nathaniel Adams Cole, otherwise known as "Nat King Cole." Then just to make this genealogy surprise even more impressive, it turns out that Ima Fibbin, his adorable wife, is the granddaughter of Ella Fitzgerald. Evidently, their families were dear friends and kept those close family connections throughout the years. You may be wondering if either one of them can sing and the answer is a RESOUNDING YES! I bothered them to see if they would sing a few numbers for those remaining at the end of the Mardi Gras and they said that they would do one better. It turns out that their good friend Kenny G., the saxophonist, was going to be staying with them that night on his way to a gig at Fantasy Springs Casino. He was due to be in town around 8:30 pm. Thomas gave him a quick call and asked if he would mind doing a little impromptu music show for his friends over at the Four Seasons. Kenny said that he didn't mind at all as long as Thomas and Ima sang with him. Sure enough, just as it was time to lock up, Kenny G. shows up and the remaining party moved to the parking lot. Holy cow! What a nice guy that Kenny G. is and what fantastic singers Thomas and Ima are! I apologize to the residents in the homes directly adjacent to the Lodge parking lot. I know it was a bit loud, but so worth it. I wish you all could have been there. It was a night you could only imagine! I'm sure that some of you may have guessed that this is my April Fool's Day article. The truth is the Mardi Gras was great and tons of fun, but Kenny G., the parking lot party and the genealogists of Thomas Cole and Ima Fibbin (whose real names are Regina and Herman Thomas) are April Foolish stuff — but wouldn't it have been amazing? By Cindy Graves Mardi Gras king and queen — guess who?

• Cover