Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012





Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012

One of the items on my list was to do something with my son in NYC. There are always memories to be made on the streets of NY. Some of my craziest stories are from days of cutting class and hanging out in Battery Park. I truly believe that NYC holds some of the most amazing sights, sounds, smells and simple freaks of all the world... you have to experience it for yourself. But- this blog is about the parade...I pulled in my husband and our kids and planned a trip for the Thanksgiving Day parade; a dear friend inspired by my Feed Your Soul Fantastic adventure decided she would experience a first and journey along with us (details to follow in another blog).

 

Tom the HUGE Turkey

Off we went for two nights in Newark and a day in Manhatten! We stayed adjacent to Penn Station thinking we'd take the PATH in and save some cash and trouble... what? Nearly $75 to get us in... needless to say tolls and parking were easier and cheaper than that. Nix the train experience! I will have to plan an underground experience another time. (It'll give me an excuse to take the kids again soon!) Off we were at barely six am, I could feel the anxiety of the city proudly emerging as I cussed like a sailor at the traffic despite my sweet, dear, Southern, Christian friend in the backseat. Ah, I'm home. We were parked and journeying towards Columbus Circle before the crowds were thick and the steam still rose with each breath.



The Pilgrims

We found a great spot on Central Park South and settled in with coffee and crying children. The college girls in front of us chatted and chatted as Ashley and I rolled our eyes and Caleb winked his. The sun rose, the streets warmed, and the crowd began buzzing only the way a NY crowd can. The clowns came running and got everyone on their feet... the parade is coming... the parade is coming! Excited cheers and whoooooo's and screams and hollers, but not a yeee- haw to be heard. 





Ronald has a head wound!

The Famous Macy's Stars danced along and Hello Kitty and Kermit and Sonic and Buzz. There was the huge Tom Turkey that seemed a little smaller, the big headed pilgrims and the President's too. I  was bouncing and cheering, even more excited than the kids. I'd finally got to see the very things I have gotten up early to watch each third Thursday in Novemeber ever since I can remember. Right after the thing I miss so much, a simple turkey dance. A tear fell from my eye for the memory of the turkey dance, only few will understand. 



Cheerleaders!

 

I was quickly distracted by the excitement of "There they are!!!!" from my son. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, he'd been watching manholes all morning just waiting for one to appear. A simple scene to bring this growing young man right back to my snuggly little boy, reminding me of my short little brother nearly a generation before. TMNT who knew?







 

Here comes Spidey!

In between the floats and excitement were all the stars... famous people right there just about within our reach. People that were much easier to recognize when there name appears below them on the screen or when they have a sign falling straight and not floating in the wind at the parade. There was Colbie Calliat no wait, that's not her... who is that? There's The Wanted and Carly Rae Jepsen and who the heck are Meg & Liz? KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR? There's Whoopi and Gabbie with the rest of the Fab Five and Rachel Crow with Dora! Who's that man with the guitar at Mt. Rushmore and Cody Simpson made the girls go wild and Mannheim Steamroller and a really cool band on a Gibson guitar. 











Jennette McCurdy- Sam from iCarly

Oh wait there is Colbie Calliat, who was that other blonde... that was Miss America! Jennette Mc Curray from iCarly and Trace Adkins and hey, somebody said that was Jimmy Fallon & The Roots on the guitar! There were power rangers and elf on the shelf and yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus. OH MY GOODNESS! It is Mario and the lady and Gordon from Sesame Street and now I am crying!!! I loved those guys growing up and watched them act silly when my brother was growing up and watched them get old as my son grew up and

I AM CRYING AS I WATCH THEM AT THE MACYS THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE AT NEARLY 40 YEARS OLD!

Sesame Street on Central Park South!





The Fab 5 2012 Olympians





Kareem Abdul- Jabbar





FLO RIDA!



It was fantastic to blend our excitement with that of the crowd. We bounced and got excited. We bounced to keep warm. We worked to explain who they people were... or who we thought they could be. Then it was FLO RIDA! Holy Cow, FLO RIDA is in front of us... dancing with some white chick with pink hair... I WANNA BE HER!!! Then we worked to explain to Lynda how to say FLO RIDA and who he was. It was all so much fun, all so amazing, all so worth every second, every dime and every stumble to get there. If you haven't done it... do it. Make a plan, follow the crowd, and tell me about it. 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 P.S. Formatting and pictures suck. I hope you enjoy them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Blessing in the Closet

The List has become more than I had planned and I am only three months in to a year long journey. I have found amazing opportunities and seized them. I have had fantastic ideas suggested and planned them. I have opened myself up to you and the others in my life and have been blessed in return. Things I only dreamed of are becoming reality or have become a casual norm. This week has brought me a lifelong dream, one I never thought could play out into the reality it has become.

I grew up not knowing my biological father or his family. I was blessed with an amazing grandfather who filled that paternal role. I was further blessed with a man who came into my life as a young child, married my mother, adopted me and raised me as his own. I always wondered what was on the other side, but being the feeling child, I never wanted to interrupt the normal routine of my paternal family. As I matured, I realized there was much more to my thoughts and feelings and I had become comfortable with what I didn’t know. Every family has its ups and downs, and its closets. When those closet doors open, you cannot forget what you saw inside. This week, one of my closet doors flew wide open, and I am in love with what has bounced out in front of me.

His name is Roger. He is my brother. His smile is contagious, even in photos. His eyes seem to be a reflection of my soul. His voice is fun and calming all in one. His stories seem so sincere and from a perspective I truly applaud. It has been only a few short days since we spoke the first time, but after one conversation I can pick up the phone and call him as if we knew each other all of our lives.

I have planned a visit with him and his family on the way to our spring break excursion in just a few short weeks. I am not afraid, I am excited. I know there are leaps and bounds, bridges and barriers, and laughter and tears to come. With blessings, someday soon I will mock him as I do my baby brother Fred, or perhaps I will experience a new perspective as Roger razzes his little sister.

Roger, thanks for typing that email.