A Parade of Memories, Americana-style

What’s on your list of places that you’d like to visit, or things you’d like to see? Most of us, with a bit of wanderlust in our souls, can recite the places that we long to experience firsthand. We have magazine pages torn and saved or Pinterest Boards of destinations of our “some days.”
 

Your Fearless Leader was probably inspired to travel by my Aunt Virginia. I still have the little Hawaiian drum she brought me from the island. She also brought sister and I necklaces made from seeds. She mailed postcards from National Parks that I stared at and told myself “Someday , I will see that with my own eyes.” Another place Auntie “V” attended was the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. We watched as the cameras flashed pictures of the crowd, because we knew she would wave to us. I have never forgotten her being there, and I have never forgotten my first trip to the parade. You won’t forget it either.

I’m guessing that all of us grew up watching the Tournament of Roses Parade. The tradition of New Year’s Day to watch those magnificent floats coming down Colorado Avenue. The marching bands, the equestrian entries, the celebrities are part of this feast for the eyes.  We were dazzled by the sheer number of flowers used to decorate these major constructions. We were amazed by the plants and seeds and living things in a kaleidoscope of colors that were applied by hand to make these pieces of art come to life. We kept track and voted in our living rooms of our favorites.

Let’s go see it. Let’s go to Pasadena to the Tournament of Roses Parade. We can be the ones sitting in the grand stands clapping. We can be the ones doing a behind the scenes tour to watch the floats in their final preparation stages. It only happens once a year.  We can also cruise down Rodeo (pronounced Row-Day-Oh) drive and take pictures of the HOLLYWOOD sign and put our hands in big stars prints on the Walk of Fame.

This is a classic experience. Knowing 2018 is the 129^th Tournament of Roses Parade, this is something wholesome for all ages. Our parents, and grandparents, and great grandparents have been part of this All-American tradition for decades. So many things change, but this entertaining event still goes on. It’s like seeing a show in New York City, or visiting Disneyland. It’s part of our American fabric, like seeing the changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery, taking a hike in Yellowstone National Park, and going to Alaska. Every American should do this! It should be on everyone’s Bucket List. It’s truly “Americana”.

The roses on the floats will fade, but you will have the memories.