Originally Posted By: sotto
When I was a kid living in the sticks of Iowa, we always thought that if we had only good and pure thoughts, went to church 3 times a week, prayed 5 times a day, gave 10% of whatever we had to the Lord, and became Born Again Christians, when we died we'd go to Pasadena. On New Years Day, in the middle of a blizzard in below zero temperatures and howling winds, the Rose Bowl Parade sure looked like Heaven to us.

Somehow, without actually dying, I managed to get somewhat near Pasadena almost 25 years ago now, and my pain threshold thankfully still seems at it's former Iowa level. However, if I found out I had to return to Iowa, for sure I would think that I had well and truly expired, and also failed miserably in my attempts at piety.

I took my wife to her first Rose Parade/Rose Bowl this year. Phenomenal! Though I must admit, the Bowl is a lot tougher to tolerate if you're used to special perks and access points (see below)

While I grew up going to the parade annually, my wife was from Wisconsin. I feel jaded, b/c every parade I see is now judged against the R.P., and most fall short! The later in life, I got to join the Pasadena F.D. (actually carrying a coin in my pocket as we speak), which meant I got to work the 8 of the last 11 Rose Bowl games. Free parking, free lunch, free game....

Pasadena pretty much is heaven on earth, IMHO smile