Mardi Gras acts as homecoming party

The parades, the music and the costumes — Fat Tuesday had all the energy of a classic Mardi Gras. But this year it wasn't about the visitors. This was a homecoming party.

The Enclarde family needed today. Hurricane Katrina scattered them across six states. But they came back — many for the first time since the storm — to watch the parade at the exact spot they've met every year for a decade.

“We don't have homes. We don't have money,” says Barbara Enclarde-Duncan.“But we have each other. And this is a celebration of us.”

Up and down the route, lots of families with lots to worry about reuinited on familiar ground for a few hours — to celebrate, forget, or just pause to remember why they like it here.

And they know how to poke a little fun at themselves.

The Conrad family lived just blocks from the 17th Street Levee. Their home was destroyed, so this year their costume choices were no contest — the levee and two mini-storms.

“For the kids to dress up as little hurricanes, you know, helps them deal with it,” says Marianne Maumus-Conrad. “We just, we needed to have Mardi Gras.”

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The Conrads are rebuilding and they say their neighborhood will be back.

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All of the Enclardes say they, too, will be coming home.

“Oh yes, everybody will be here next year,” says Wayne Enclardes. “I guarantee.”

Why does Bernadette Encalarde-Porschethink everybody's coming back?

Because, she says, “There's no place like home.”