Happy New Year! How is it that, year in and year out, this day still excites us so? Well, at least it does me..., renewal, a chance to start again, clean sheet, so to speak.

I can remember being twelve-years old and getting up at 0'dark thirty on a New Year's Day to drive into Pasadena to attend the Rose Parade. My family had a 1967 Volkswagen Bus, blue and white. We packed into the bus, my parents, five kids and a few cousins and friends, tossed in for good measure. The hour drive felt three times as long with the excitement that brewed.

We arrived, found a parking place, and spilled out of the van with blankets and chairs in tow, as we made our way to the parade route. After walking for what seemed like several miles, we found the perfect curbside spot and anxiously awaited the start of the parade, and waited and then waited some more. The early morning was cool and we huddled close to stay warm. It was a wonderful way to wrap up a busy, holiday season. The parade, of course, was phenomenal but my younger brothers and I got the biggest kick out of the guys that followed the horses with the shovels and wagons. We were sorry for them but couldn't help laughing and being disgusted, all at the same time.

When the parade was over, we made our way back to the "bus" and piled in once again, to begin our trek home. Each of our loads was heavier as we had peeled off layers of clothing as the Southern California sun had successfully heated up the parade route. As we pulled away, leaving yet another Thorn adventure, little did we know it was far from over. We merged onto a heavy freeway and fairly soon into our ride home, the old bus sputtered and chugged. My mother threw a knowing look at my dad. "Out of gas? Really?" And on the freeway, no less!

My dad was able to get the car to the shoulder of the road and he, my older brother and a cousin got out of the car and pushed us all to the nearest off ramp and, luckily enough, we glided into a waiting gas station. This was nothing new to my family, my dad often flew by the seat of his pants. My mother was less than thrilled but we had all learned to roll with my dad's gregarious and "risky" ways. And now, many years later, it only sweetens the memory of a New Year's Day from my youth.

The lesson? Sometimes, the unexpected is just another ingredient of time and it is all in how you view it. It could have been a messy end to a fun day, but we have laughed at this recollection of my father so many times over the years. And to this day, every time I watch a parade or even say "Happy New Year," I remember a blue and white bus being pushed along a freeway, the stern looks that melted into laughter and a happy family.

May your day and all of 2010 be filled with love and memories-in-the-making!


©by rayannethorn