Everything's Coming Up Roses

I've mentioned often in the past how my good friend, writer-director Mick Garris is the son-in-law of Louis Zamperini, the subject of the book and now-movie, Unbroken.  His wife, my friend Cynthia, is Louie's daughter, and she and her brother and have been involved with helping promote the film, participating in Q&A's for the film, carrying on for their father who was expecting to do the events, but passed away this past summer,

I was trading emails yesterday with Cynthia, about how incredibly well the movie did in its opening four days, making a huge $46 million.  She offhandedly mentioned in return something about the Rose Parade 

This surprised me a bit, and I asked if that means she’s participating in some way with the Rose Parade.  I thought maybe, possibly she would reply that she was going to be on a float.  But even that seemed a stretch.  Perhaps she just meant being involved with some events tied in with the parade.  Or maybe she was referring to the traffic, which gets really heavy with tourists and locals want to the parade.  

Involved in “some way” I had wondered??  Ha!  Little did I know.  

Cynthia wrote back and mentioned that what she was referring to is she and her brother are going to be…are you ready…the Grand Marshals!!!!  

It turns out, you see, that her father was supposed to be the Grand Marshal, but the Rose Parade officials still wanted to honor Louie, and so they asked his kids to be it instead.  So, now, of course, I absolutely have to watch.  Or at least record it.  Thank goodness for the DVR.  

I had no idea.  But how cool – she’s going to be Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade!

 So, if you were planning to watch the Rose Parade on New Year's Day, keep an eye out for the Grand Marshall's.  I'm sure that she has been practicing her wave to the crowd.

This is who you should be looking out for.  Her brother will be the other one.