A New Year: Oh the Places You'll Go

The time has come again, the time in which we celebrate the coming and going of another year. People around the world remember what has passed within the last 365 days, while others may think about the possible events that have yet to come. For this reason, infinite possibilities are present for each person. Possibilities in an individual's academic career or possibilities in a person's professional career may come into the picture. Another person may be confronted with developments in their personal relationships and friendships. There will be loss and there will be gains, but what will never change is the power that an individual has to make the changes that present themselves prosperous in the end.

This concept was honored and depicted today during the 124th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. This year the theme of the parade was "Oh the Places You'll Go", based on the best selling children's book written by Dr. Seuss. Oh the Places You'll Go follows a young boy, referred to as "you", who leaves his hometown to set out on a journey that represents life. Throughout this journey the main character experiences ups and downs, visits places that differ in many ways, and spends time in places like the Waiting Place, an area that represents the periods of inaction that people often experience during life. This book, however, often acts as an inspirational tale for people entering new periods of their life. With quotes like, "Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed. (98¾% guaranteed.)" and "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...", Oh the Places You'll Go acted as the perfect theme for the Rose Parade this year.

Dozens of imaginative and astonishing floats made their debut this morning as the parade made its way down the streets of Pasadena. Ever since the Rose parade was first held in 1890, every float that is entered is covered with organic material, including thousands of roses. The first float shown today was the Honda float, which included a long metal slide surrounded by roses. The 2012 Olympic US female  gymnastics team rode aboard this float, sliding down the slide, and waved to fans as they passed by. The gold medal female gymnastics team also lent a hand in decorating part of the Honda float. This fun float was a great way to open the parade.

The second float to make an appearance was the Dole float. This float won the Sweepstakes award. Spanning the moving spectacle were several realistic tropical birds with rotating heads and working beaks, as well as wild cats and plant life. On the rear of the float, a twenty-six foot high working volcano released fire into the air. Several working water fountains were also placed intermittently throughout the float adding moving water to the jaw dropping sight.

The next float to make its way down the parade route was entitled Dino-Soar. This float won the award for Best Animation. Cute dinosaurs, akin to those seen on movies like Land Before Time, were set down the float with working heads and necks.

One of the most on point floats of the whole parade was the Kaiser Healthcare and Insurance float. This float was entitled "Oh the Healthy Things You Can Do". Featured on this float were eight patients that had been treated via the insurance company. The patients were surrounded in a Dr. Seuss world. The Cat in the Hat sat in the middle, reading a book to Sally and her brother, while Thing 1 and Thing 2 sat on the side of the float, smiling for all the spectators. This float ended up winning the Theme Award.

Next up, the Nurse's Float featured a doe and baby deer in the center surrounded by an owl, butterflies, rabbits, and other woodland creatures seated upon rocks and trees in the center of a forest. This communicated the feeling of nurturing and care that the nurses bring to their patients everyday. The float also won the Craftsman Award for the details included upon the float.

The winner of the Governor's award made its appearance next. The City of Glendale float showcased different aspects and characteristics of the city. Among these images a picture of the hospital and an large trolley care took center stage. The trolley car rode upon a strip of movie film highlighting the impact that the entertainment industry has had upon the town. Skilled decorators of the Glendale float were able to showcase the characteristics of Glendale that separate it from the rest of California.

From there, the Downey Rose Float Association float, called "Dew Drop By", made its way down the street. Upon this float a fairytale setting was featured within a magical English garden. Fairies tended to the tropical flowers and watched the butterflies which set upon different plants throughout the garden. There were also two houses made from different forest materials, including tree trucks and leaves. This magical land transported the viewing audience back in time to simpler days.

Another showcased float was the China Airlines float. As the winner of the International award, this float centered around a Chinese pagoda containing flowers, while being surrounded by palm trees and feathers. This float also promoted the activity of bike riding by featuring bike riders who followed the float down the route. This promoted a green way of transportation that is very popular within China.

A float that touched my heart was the Donate Life float. Also called the Float of Tears, the Donate Life float celebrates the gift of organ donation with pictures or people that have donated their organs within the past year. Because of this, tears of grief and joy are associated with this float. Surviving family members had the opportunity to take part of the Rose Parade by helping decorate the float and/or riding the float with pictures of their family members. Hearts made of flowers covered the float representing the love and impact that the organ donors had upon the world.

The City of LA was also represented during the Rose Parade upon a float of its own. The theme of the City of LA float was making connections, getting it the Mayor's award. The float was comprised of images of the international terminal of the LAX airport, a plane hovering above the float as if taking off, and a restaurant with an observation deck at the top. This ties together the idea of nations coming together as one.

The next float took the viewers into a world of talking cars. On the Disneyland Resort float, the movie Cars was opened up for the viewers. Characters of the movie, like Mater, Lightning McQueen, and Sally made special appearances bringing smiles to viewers young and old. Local hotspots of the movie, like Cozy Cone Inn and The V8 Cafe, caught the eyes of people everywhere. The scenery of Radiator Springs also brought in forty-five points of animation to the float for the nation to see.

From Radiator Springs the parade continued on to the Miracle-Gro float. This was the first float that Miracle-Gro ever entered into the Rose Parade. It featured different flowers, trees, and plant life that the Miracle-Gro formula can help grow. The main idea of the float was the idea that everyone grows throughout life, a main theme of Oh the Places You'll Go.

The HGTV float made rolled across the screen next. As winner of the Grand Marshall's Award for excellence in creative design and concept, the HGTV float highlighted the idea of a dream home. Comprised of an igloo, birdhouse, modern home, log cabin, castle, and pueblo house, the HGTV float showed that the idea of a dream home can be a reality for any person.

Another touching moment came when Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods float came down the road. The theme of this float was Canines with Courage, or Dogs for Defense. This honored the dogs that go overseas with the US military. At this point of the parade, a US soldier from Afghanistan was reunited with his wife and son. This was filled with smiles, tears, and a standing ovation.

Next, a float from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economies, Republic of Indonesia, highlighted the importance of tradition and history. On this float three women in traditional Indonesian dress and colors were focused upon. This float also received the President's Award for most effective use of floral decoration and detail.

The Farmer's Insurance float made the next big bang by rolling through with a bride and groom on top of their float. On top of a huge Faberge egg, a bride and groom were in the middle of their wedding. Their vows were broadcast on air as well as their first married kiss.

Following this love float the Department of Defense presented their float honoring war veterans. The float honored the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration. The Korean War Veterans Memorial was recreated upon the float. This highlighted the fact that freedom is not free. Members of the audience in California stood to honor the veterans and fallen soldiers. The Korean War was the first time that the military saw all creeds, colors, and nationalities of the US serving as one. It was also called the Forgotten War, but was remembered with a fly that honored all.

Finally, the last float of the 2013 Rose Parade was the Western Asset float. This float featured different notable locations worldwide. The features highlighted by the float included the London Bridge, the world's tallest building in Dubai, the Statue of Liberty, the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, and the Rose Bowl Stadium of California.

In the end, the 124th Rose Parade showed that a person's life can take them anywhere around the world. As Dr. Seuss would say, "You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left."