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January 01, 2004
Happy New Year!
New Year's Day is always exciting when you live in Pasadena, whether you go to the Rose Parade or not. I was able to watch the 8:00 am fighter jet flyby from my front yard. They were a couple of miles away, but for a few seconds I had a clear view. Later in the day I got lucky when the three planes in formation flew directly over my house. I'm not sure where they were headed. Maybe they were on their way to the Rose Bowl. Regardless, it was an unexpected treat.
On my morning dog walk I wandered to the end of the parade route to catch a glimpse of the festivities. The end of the parade is not as picture perfect as the start, and TV cameras are conspicuously absent.
The 5.5 mile journey takes its toll on the bands. There are always band members that just can't make it, and have to be picked up by the Tournament vans. Tuba players are especially at risk for obvious reasons. Yet for the most part the bands manage to play up a storm, right up to the end, before collapsing on the grass in Victory Park. It should be noted that the Marine Corp band looked like they could do it all over again. I don't think they broke a sweat.
The float experience is a bit different at the end of the route as well. The parade passes under the 210 freeway in the last quarter mile, so the tall ones have to sort of fold down in order to make it. Most of them don't go back up again for the few remaining blocks. I think the ones that do should get a special award.
The orange alert had it's effect. A Marine Corp. facility that marks the very end of the parade was guarded by several soldiers with automatic rifles. Military helicopters moved up and down the route all morning. There were no banner toting airplanes or blimps this year. All non-essential planes were banned from the airspace above the parade route and Rose Bowl.
I enjoyed the bands considerably more than my dog (Raider) did, so we didn't stick around too long. We wandered to the other end of the park to watch the equestrian groups finish their ride to their waiting transportation. This calmer, gentler part of the parade was more to Raider's liking.
From all accounts it was a peaceful, but fun parade. Let's hope that sets the tone for the New Year! I hope you have a great one.
Comments
Thanks for the local perspective on the Rose parade. Even though I live in Manhattan, I've never had the desire to do the Times Square party. I always just watch the New Year's ball drop, as millions of other do, on television. The thought of standing around for hours in the cold with millions of people never felt like the right thing for me. The Rose Parade sounds like it might be a little more my style (especially where it is warmer). Happy New Year to you also and all your readers!
Posted by: Lynn at January 7, 2004 07:32 AM
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