My parents just left after a week long visit from Pennsylvania. The weather couldn't have been better as we drove throughout Southern California like tourists taking in all of the sights. One of the highlights of their trip was the opportunity to see the Rose Parade. Since my mother was a little girl, she had always dreamed of being there watching the floats in all of their splendor pass by.

The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1890. In that year, members of the Pasadena Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers to celebrate the ripening of the orange crop in California. They were former residents of the East and Midwest eager to showcase their new home's mild winter weather, telling the world about "paradise". (My parents certainly felt like they were in paradise with the mild temperatures and California sunshine!)

During the next few years, the festival expanded to include marching bands and motorized floats. The Rose Parade’s elaborate floats now feature high-tech computerized animation and exotic natural materials from around the world and take nearly a year to construct.

This January 1st, however, it was about experiencing the magic of festivities and fulfilling the dream of a lifetime. I will never forget my mother's face as she sat, bundled up, staring in awe as the floats slowly hummed along. I will never forget her excitement as she grabbed onto my arm in the staging area, as we both tried to guess what plants and fruits were used to create these wonder-ful objects.

What is your dream of a lifetime?