One ends....the NEXT Begins!

Here it is New Year's Eve. A night of celebration (with the HOW depending upon your age)....capped off by the start of a whole new year ahead. A time for reflection, renewal, and focus….the anticipation of what lies ahead and appreciation of life experiences of the past.

Thinking back to this date, last year…back to California with its plus 18 degree days (compared to today’s -10 here in Niagara) and standing in shorts and sandals anticipating the 125^th Rose Parade the next day. Bright sun, blue skies….just like today,

There, sitting in the grandstands at Pasadena Community College, enjoying the honoured high school bands…

that were selected three years in advance after a rigorous juried process that includes audition tapes and the documentation of parades and awards.  It’s infectious, when you see a 300 plus member high school band and colour guard marching their routes and formations, and playing their music. And it’s even harder to imagine the work that these teens, their families and their small American town supporters had to achieve in order that they participate.

Now, you have to realize that the Rose people don’t just write a cheque once that band has been selected….no way. The band members have to raise the necessary funds for transportation, food and shelter while they are at the parade. I can't imagine the budget needed to achieve that...food costs for teenagers alone times 300!!!!  While it’s a sense of pride and accomplishment, once selected, the hard work begins…..fundraising on a grand scale, accomplished by a myriad of sales techniques and products.

L.A. SCHOOLS UNIFIED H.S. BAND

WESTFIELD H.S.BAND, Chantilly, Virginia

Internationally acclaimed High School Band, Japan

Stories from smaller one high school towns talked of cookie dough sales, raffles and bake sales and in one particular location, the school band members sold mattresses on their three year quest to do the nine kilometers up Orange Grove Boulevard and down Colorado to the delight of hundreds of thousands...many who have lined the parade route overnight to ensure their special viewing spot.

Traditions are everywhere at this time of the year and the Tournament of Roses Parades are no exception.  Huge crowds of all ages gather on this night on the sidewalks along the parade route. Old chairs, chesterfields, mattresses and Barbeques magically appear and as the night air chills…the party gets going…..it’s food and beverages and gatherings of friends and families prepping for the big event the next day…while protecting their turf.

Precisely, at midnight, they can move from the curbs and sidewalks onto the street to the blue line painted to designate the parade borders. These activities are closely monitored by the local police supplemented by LA County sheriff deputies and other local agencies…and they are prepared for the worst while the celebrating continues. I’ve never seen so many paddy wagons lined up in columns in the Pasadena City hall parking lot….had to be over 50.

Early morning awaiting daylight  & the Parade

Tomorrow’s parade starts annually at 8 a.m. local time…and the town rises early to get everything into position…the floats are lined up in the evening and must be in position for judging to commence at 10 p.m. on New Years Eve…but, with the three hour time shift, that’s an hour after the ball drops in Times Square.

So the tradition, happening tonight, in the Pasadena area is to celebrate with New York, toast the midnight Crystal Ball drop at nine p.m. locally, and then grab some shut eye before an early rising to pre-parade requirements.

As sure as night follows day….tomorrow will be next year.

NEXT UP: THE TOURNAMENT OF ROSES