My First Macy's Experience

Before the holidays become a distant memory and people rush back to their busy everyday lives, I wanted to take a few minutes to share the magical experience I had this year at the 88th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I met my sister in New York the day before the big event, and we were both excited to see this famous holiday spectacle in person. 

With my favorite New Yorker and resident parade expert providing the itinerary for the morning, I woke up at 5:30am and put on each carefully-planned layer I had packed, including elastic-waisted flannel-lined jeans, and wondered out into the dark, early morning with my sister and a large Dunkin' Donuts coffee, ready for our adventure. 

I was really dreading the thought of standing out in the cold, in the same spot, for more than two hours, but with some great people-watching opportunities happening all around us, it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting. 

But before I go on, I must further elaborate on the people-watching comment... so let me share the first picture I took that morning:

You know, I'm certainly not the biggest morning person in the world, and I could've gone without having to stand outside for a chilly couple of hours to get a decent viewing spot on the parade route, but this little hooded devil pushed and squeezed her way in at the very last minute, instantly making about 20 enemies in the process. While she was taking 10+ pictures of every single float and balloon that passed by on her iPhone, I occasionally used her head as a lens rest for my camera, "bumped" into her a couple of times and flapped my big elbows around in an effort to get in front of her any chance I could. Just one of many ways I can turn a negative situation into a positive (entertaining) experience.

Moving on... Once the parade got started, it was indescribably cool to be there watching it with my own eyes rather than on a TV screen as I have previously done all my life. I took about 150 photos and selected a few of my favorites to share. 

 

One of the Jonas brothers I think??? 

The "Red Hot Mamas"

I really wanted to jump on this float with IDINA MENZEL!!

It was such a great experience, and even though I usually have an averse reaction to large crowds (I'm moving to New York why?), we were surrounded by some really fun people who made the experience even better. I'm so glad I got to do this with my sister, and was also glad when we made it back to our hotel room that afternoon because we took what really was the best nap ever after a very busy morning.