In October 2006 my sister moved from Ohio down to St. Thomas in the USVI. A month later I went down to visit her for Thanksgiving and to help her get settled and moved into her new place. Ever since (with the exception of when I was living in Japan) I've headed down to the Caribbean once or twice a year to meet up with her. Sometimes I've visited her on St. Thomas, but more often than not we've gone island hoping around the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. Over the years we've been together to Puerto Rico, St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Seba, St. Barts, Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis. 
Thursday night this past week, my sister called me up with a new proposal for our island getaway this spring; she wants me to come down to St. Thomas at the end of April for Carnival. That all sounds well and good, but she wants us to actually join the Infernos Carnival Troupe with her friends and to be in the parade. To quote her, "Haven't you always wanted to wear a feathered headdress in a parade?" The 2012 Carnival theme for the troupe is entitled "Be Jeweled" with Jewel of India (orange costumes), Amethyst (purple costumes) and Emerald (green costumes) sections.
Although I am more than a little nervous about wearing one these costumes, it would be a lot of fun to be a part of one of the island's big cultural events. St. Thomas held its first Carnival in 1912 and again in 1914 before lapsing due to World War I. It was revived in 1952 and has since become an annual celebration called the V.I. Carnival. Filled with dancing and music from the African and European traditions that influenced the islands it would really be something to see and be a part of.
So what do you think? Am I crazy for doing this? What color do you like best (we are leaning toward the purple)?Would you want to be in a Carnival Parade? Have you always wanted to wear a feathered headdress?