The Rose Parade

Grampa Don

Grampa Don

Yep, that's me
Location
Orange county, Calif.
Did you watch the Rose parade on New Year's day? I watched part of it. Being as I was born and raised in a suburb of Los Angeles, the Rose parade was a big deal when I was a kid. I'd get up early to watch it on our 10 inch screen in glorious black and white while munching on something. One year my Mom bought a coconut, and I ate too much and got sick.

In 1956, a high school friend and I went to see it in person. It was still dark when we claimed our spot on the curb. Just before the parade was due to start, I had to go to the bathroom. I thought my bladder would burst. So, I had to get up and find a restroom. By the time I got back, the parade was going and there was a crowd standing along the street. There was no way they were going to let my back to the curb. So, all I could see were the tops of the floats and hear the bands going by.

My friend was in the school band and the next year he marched in it. That was one of the very few years when it rained and he got soaked. I watched that one from our warm living room. The parade was more of a local thing in those days. Most of the floats were local organizations or cities,and the bands were from local schools. Now, it's a big commercial thing, and I don't think it is as much fun.

I'm always amazed when a high school band from a little town I never heard of consists of hundreds of kids. How do they do that? But, it must be a great adventure for the kids. I'm sure they all get to visit Disneyland and some of the other tourist spots.

A couple things have kind of spoiled it for me. One is flying a big black stealth bomber over the start. I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but to me a bomber is not a good way to say Happy New Year. Let's face it, this is basically a killing machine. The other is when they started calling it the Rose Parade by Honda. Honda? Do you really need a corporate sponsor for a community parade? I think it's gotten out of hand.

Don
 

We watched the Parade this year, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Especially the one float that needed help getting around the corner. :rolleyes: The amount of time and work that goes into each float is amazing. One of the large high school bands was from Pickerington, OH. The band is a combined band from 2 schools in the city.

More importantly, The Ohio State University Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl game.
 
"... a great adventure for the kids ..." I hope so, but there's also the down side.

Friends of ours have worked the Red Cross first aid stations at the Rose Parade for many years. They tell us that the most common problem they see is bleeding feet caused by new shoes. Gotta look good for the cameras, after all. Why bother breaking in your new shoes, as relentlessly suggested ahead of time? What do those stupid adults know? How can new shoes hurt your feet when you're only walking 4 or 5 miles in them? Never mind that it's all on hard pavement and there's no opportunity to stop for a rest, unless you want drop out and face endless ridicule from the rest of your group.

Although the flyover footage was lousy this year, the B-2 flyover is the best (but briefest) part of the whole event, IMO. Yeah, it's a bomber and designed for "death from above," but it's the coolest plane ever. Except maybe the SR-71 or the Space Shuttle.

Also cool is seeing the floats up close and personal after the parade.
 

raybar said:
Although the flyover footage was lousy this year, the B-2 flyover is the best (but briefest) part of the whole event, IMO. Yeah, it's a bomber and designed for "death from above," but it's the coolest plane ever. Except maybe the SR-71 or the Space Shuttle.
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I agree, the B-2 is a cool aircraft. The M1-Abrams is a cool tank. I just don't feel either one belongs in the Rose Parade.

Don
 
I was disappointed that we didn't get to see the last four floats that were stuck behind the broken-down one. I read that the float builders were going to receive a hefty fine for breaking down. It was bad enough that they broke down, but then the tow truck hitch broke and that was that at that point.

With all those people in the street, I don't see how they could have started the parade back up safely.

I do look forward to the Rose Parade every year. I helped decorate a float last year for the Citrus Bowl Parade, attaching oranges with rubber bands. I thought my fingers were going to fall off before the day was over.
 
Grampa Don said:
A couple things have kind of spoiled it for me. One is flying a big black stealth bomber over the start. I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but to me a bomber is not a good way to say Happy New Year.
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I really like military flyovers. To me, the planes are more impressive than any of the floats on the ground, and the sound ... well, that's the sound of freedom. I love it!
 
I enjoy seeing military aircraft too. I've been to the air show at Chino several times and used to go to the one at El Toro. But, I just don't think they are a good fit for a New Years parade. And, the B2, while being a neat aircraft, just looks foreboding. It's like a giant bat. Anyway, that's how I feel.

Don
 
While never a big fan of parades, I look forward to that one and the Macy parade every year. I remember one year, back in 60's, my aunt and uncle, who lived in Arizona, took a vacation to Ca. After the parade and went to where they had some of the floats on display after. They enjoyed that experience.
 
First, for one of the networks, we'd rather see/hear Stephany Edwards and Bob Eubanks do the announcing, however Hoda and Al done a fine job. I did notice, because we love the equestrian units, some of them were missed with commercials. Just as a U.S. Army Calvary Unit was coming on, a commercial came on. Some of the bands didn't play so well, but most of them were absolutely terrific looking.

Sort of funny, but the Hawaiian Mounted Unit actually rented their horses from someone in San Diego...…..that was announced.

And, what can be said about the floats, spectacular as always.
 

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