History in the Making! A 2007 Rose Parade Story By Meagan Browne-14 years old Golden Browne Llamas Phelan, CA USA
On the streets of Pasadena, people pushed and shoved to view the small party of llamas that strutted proudly down the street. White suited men and women held them back, stopping them from overrunning the llamas and their handlers. It was January 1, 2007 New Years Day in America. It was the day when the 118th Rose Parade kicked off the New Year and when two football teams would battle it out at the Rose Bowl shortly after the parade.
Every year, there were horses, floats and marching bands in the parade, all covered in flowers of every kind. There had never been llamas in this parade before, but this year was different. For the first time in history llamas had been invited to the internationally famous annual Tournament of Roses Parade.
There were eighteen llamas in the parade unit, four pulling carts and the others being led by handlers. Checkers and Bounder were two of the llamas in the parade. Checkers was a stunning and utterly handsome grey, black, brown and tan spotted appaloosa male, while Bounder was a regal solid black male. Both were intact, studs for Golden Browne Llamas. Meagan Browne was Checkers handler, and his best friend at that. John Browne, Meagan’s dad, was walking Bounder, his llama, who he had shown several times.
They were dressed in traditional South American attire; Meagan was wearing a Coastal Peruvian black skirt and white U necked decorative blouse with a black and gold sash under her black poncho made of llama fiber. A wide brimmed hat with black ribbon adorned her head. John was wearing a white shirt and black pants under a stunning red patterned Peruvian poncho made of llama fiber. He wore a hand felted hat made of llama fiber that Marti, his wife made. The llamas each had South American llama packs on decorated with tassels and pom-poms as well as hand crocheted breast collars. Carnations, orchids and roses filled their packs. Tassels hung from their halters, and bells jingled on their breast collars along with three tiered tassels, adding to the great splendor of the sight. Some of the rest of the llamas in the group were dressed similarly, though some had regular hiking packs on with bunches of roses filling their panniers.
Everyone was excited; you could just feel it in the air. Reporters buzzed around interviewing the llama’s handlers, and TV cameras zoomed in on the scene. Then the drums of a nearby band sounded, fire works went off and the Stealth Bombers flew over! Then the fast paced march down the street began.
At first we marched by the people who had camped on the sidewalks that night, of which there were plenty. Then the bleachers came into view, and it took ones breath away. Every seat was taken, and the massive bleachers towered over the street. There were live TV cameras at the top of the bleachers and more on the ground level. News reporters were talking on TV about each float and group that passed by describing all kinds of details. The llamas passed the cameras, and went down the long street passed many more bleachers packed with people. Sometimes family members and friends would call out to the llama handlers, making them swell with pride. I got to see my mom and several of my friends along the parade route.
Halfway down the parade route, while the llama group was passing the Pasadena City College, everybody in one bleacher section called out twice, “We love you Meagan and John”. It made them happy, especially myself, considering I AM Meagan!!! At the end of the parade, everybody was happy that both llamas and handlers had made the five and a half mile walk up and down hills on the paved city streets. The group continued down the road past the parade route quite a long way to reach their trailers in the disbanding area. Then they were driven to a In and Out Burger truck where they were served free food just for being in the parade! After they ate, the group met at a park in Glendora where the adults enjoyed a bottle of champagne in celebration, and the youth drank sparkling apple cider. Talk about fun! I was really glad I had worked so hard to prepare to be in the Rose Parade and actually got to walk in the parade with my llama, Checkers. I hope to do it again next year, so watch for Checkers and me on TV!!!
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