Ghost of New Years past

This specific day, I'm sure, will forever more remind of the TMB. For two of the last three years, I spent New Years Eve and Day at USC. I will never forget leaving my family on/around December 27 to have winter band camp in preparation for the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl Game (The Granddaddy of Them All!). For two years I spent my birthday with my fellow bandies, practicing the halftime show all day, and doing a rally at night. Then, on New Years Eve, my section would gather together a little before 9 pm to celebrate an east coast New Years, so we could all get some rest for the next day.

New Years Day, our call time was at 5 am. We would meet at the Radisson Hotel across the street from campus for breakfast, and to change into uniform. From there we were bused to Pasadena to march in the Rose Parade, which was a HUGE hurry up and wait. Finally after waiting for a while, it was our turn to begin the LONG 6 mile march down the parade route. This is a parade that feels like it will never end, and since my section didn't have a TA those years, we relied on the kindness of other TA's for water, or jolly ranchers. The light at the end of the tunnel comes when you go under an overpass, and half a mile later the parade is over! I will never forget the exhaustion I felt, and the amount of perspiration I released, but also the amount of hunger accumulated. After the parade, we'd run to put our instrument away, get out of that heavy, hot uniform, and get in line for two In-N-Out burgers, bag of chips, piece of fruit, bottle of water, and can of soda. Haha it was the best meal ever! Afterwards, we'd get back on the bus, our legs aching, for a 20 minute bus ride to the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Once there, it was off the bus, back into our uniform, instrument out, and ready to win the game! After a couple of rallies, we finally would enter the stadium and get ready for our pre-game show. Then we'd take our place in the stadium and prepare to stand up for the entirety of the game (remember we had marched 6 miles earlier that day). I can honestly say that I was more nervous preforming at half time for the Rose Bowl, than I was for my first half time show in the Coliseum, because at the Rose Bowl the cameras are on zip lines throughout the field. Anyways, after about 5-6 hours of taking over the Rose Bowl, it was time for us to go back to campus. Back at the buses we had sandwiches from Boston Market waiting for us. Once back on campus, there was a huge line/wait to get back into the band office to turn in our uniform and pick up our Rose Bowl gifts*
As tiring as the day/week was, it is definitely an amazing experience, I would not trade for anything in the world. For this reason, January 1st will always hold a special place in my heart, and memories were created on this day that I will never forget!

*We've gotten some pretty good gifts, embroidered Ogio backpack, Rose Bowl band shirts, USC jacket with embroidery on the sleeve, countless pins, hats, and commemerative football program.