Doctor’s Diary July 22, 2023: Parades are for memories

Parades are for memories

Raising children is not an easy task. But as parents, we try to provide occasional life experiences they will preserve as memories for decades to come.

One such experience was decorating Rose Parade floats for 9 consecutive years. Not only is the Tournament of Roses Parade recognized internationally, but for our children to see their work in person or on TV brings an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

In our final year of volunteering, we with several of their girlfriends were now a seasoned team of decorators taking on any challenge. The float we were assigned to already had many workers, so we were sent to one just trying to get off the ground. 

Initially, the forewoman was skeptical because our teen girls seemed young. By the end of our shift though, half the “TV side” of the float was completed! 

Two days later on the news, we saw our float won the award for the first in the parade to be completely decorated, much coming from our efforts!

As was our tradition, all of us would attend the Rose Parade to see not only our float, but many others lining the streets of Pasadena worked on by local cities and businesses.

There were many sitting around us wearing cardinal and white colors as the Badgers from Wisconsin were playing in the Rose Bowl football game later in the day.

The parade had started, and periodically the girls anxiously watched for their float to turn onto Colorado Blvd. The Badger fan next to me quizzically asked “Why do the girls keep calling it their float?” I explained to her they had decorated the TV side of the float.

Finally, the float turned the corner and stopped in front of us. All the girls were leaning forward silently, as I could see they undoubtedly felt the pride of their hard work.

As the float regained its momentum down Colorado Blvd for its trek, the nearby seated crowd dressed in cardinal and white rose up and applauded toward our girls recognizing their accomplishment. 

I love the people of Wisconsin!

So why doesn’t the City of Santa Clarita have a float in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade? Looking at the list of floats recently revealed the Cities of South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Burbank, Glendale, Downey, and Torrance participate. Why not us?

Indeed, this possibility was brought up about 20 years ago to the City Council without success. Was it money or time?

For this 37-year resident of Santa Clarita, it has always been difficult to describe to friends where Santa Clarita is, until one mentions Magic Mountain. Now though, our valley is known as the “Hollywood of the North”, and is recognized as the producer of Olympic medal-winning athletes, having safe communities, great schools including high-achieving high schools and colleges, and even had a TV series named after us: Santa Clarita Diet! 

We are not just Magic Mountain.

Decorating a Rose Parade float is a life experience, even though it might be for just one day. It would be even more special if it was for our home town.

So I ask the City Council to please consider developing a feasibility committee to determine the timetable and cost of such a project. As most of you might be already thinking, this would not only provide a life experience for our children, but also an event where we all can work as a team to create a piece of art for the world to admire.

Businesses can get on board sponsoring groups of volunteers, and of course, we can have a contest for float design with the winner riding on the float New Year’s Day.

Having a float from our City will not only be a personal life experience, but also memories for families and the community.

Let your voices be heard over the next few months at City Hall, on social media, and on the news.

The City of Santa Clarita is not just Magic Mountain anymore.