I didn't really plan well for today, Like a lot of people, I think I underestimated how big this whole post Superbowl victory parade was going to be. My original plan, had been to go to work like normal, step out for an hour for the parade, and then work an hour late giving fans a few hours to leave the city, or stay late and party, and then me go home like normal.
I knew the second I got off the ferry, there was a chance I may need to recalebrate that plan. By 7:30 panic set into my office, with reports of bus delays and even bigger ferry delays, two of my co-workers decided to call it, take their laptops and go work from home. I felt like if I did all the work to get to work, I may as well tough it out. So I did.
As the day went on and reports of 650 stuck at one ferry terminal and 150 at another, I decided a new plan was in fact necissary. It was freezing cold outside, and crowded, so me and a co worker scoped out a window where we could have seen probably more of the parade than what I was actually able to see, but ultimately, we decided we wanted to be in that crowd, even if it was cold, and well, crowded.
At 12:00 we bundled up and headed out. The office was pretty much empty. Everyone was working from home except me and the person I went to the parade with, and our season ticket holder and the person he selected to go to the stadium with him.
At 12:10 we reached the top of the hill, and found a spot. There were so many people that it wasn't too cold at first. At 12:12 we had our "moment of loudness" which was fun. and then we checked and the parade was running about an hour late. so we waited, and chanted and waited. It started to get cold. Then Marshawn Lynch showed up throwing skittles, and made it all worth while. I saw the trophy, but not who was holding it, I saw tight ends, and running backs, and then I really couldn't see anything after that because everyones cell phones got higher and higher.
At about 1:00, I decided I had had my part in the parade, even though people were still coming, I figured it was my only shot, I could go to the ferry or spend all night trying to get home. So I went, and got there just in time to be at the front of the ferry line for the 2pm sailing. I was one of the first 50 people to board, Im prety sure the boat was filled to capacity- people were sitting on the floor or standing. It took a long time to unload on the other side. and it took an hour plus to get home when I got off that boat.
So yes, I went to the parade, and I couldn't see much, and I was freezing cold. But it was worth it. To feel that atmosphere, and to have been one of 700,000 was totally worth it. I was in france in 1998, but I didn't get to be in Paris at the Champs Elysee, but I got to be in seattle today, and that was special.
One unique thing about seattle that I would like to remark, even with 700,000 people in seattle today, and hours in the cold, and waiting for ferries, throughout the entire day, I didnt cross one rude person, everyone was kind to each other, and everyone gave each other space, and didn't push and shove and cut in line, or even jay walk, that I saw. That is incredibly impressive I think.
Well, Olympics start tomorrow. Let the partying continue. Im watching what I missed of the parade online.
I knew the second I got off the ferry, there was a chance I may need to recalebrate that plan. By 7:30 panic set into my office, with reports of bus delays and even bigger ferry delays, two of my co-workers decided to call it, take their laptops and go work from home. I felt like if I did all the work to get to work, I may as well tough it out. So I did.
As the day went on and reports of 650 stuck at one ferry terminal and 150 at another, I decided a new plan was in fact necissary. It was freezing cold outside, and crowded, so me and a co worker scoped out a window where we could have seen probably more of the parade than what I was actually able to see, but ultimately, we decided we wanted to be in that crowd, even if it was cold, and well, crowded.
At 12:00 we bundled up and headed out. The office was pretty much empty. Everyone was working from home except me and the person I went to the parade with, and our season ticket holder and the person he selected to go to the stadium with him.
At 12:10 we reached the top of the hill, and found a spot. There were so many people that it wasn't too cold at first. At 12:12 we had our "moment of loudness" which was fun. and then we checked and the parade was running about an hour late. so we waited, and chanted and waited. It started to get cold. Then Marshawn Lynch showed up throwing skittles, and made it all worth while. I saw the trophy, but not who was holding it, I saw tight ends, and running backs, and then I really couldn't see anything after that because everyones cell phones got higher and higher.
At about 1:00, I decided I had had my part in the parade, even though people were still coming, I figured it was my only shot, I could go to the ferry or spend all night trying to get home. So I went, and got there just in time to be at the front of the ferry line for the 2pm sailing. I was one of the first 50 people to board, Im prety sure the boat was filled to capacity- people were sitting on the floor or standing. It took a long time to unload on the other side. and it took an hour plus to get home when I got off that boat.
So yes, I went to the parade, and I couldn't see much, and I was freezing cold. But it was worth it. To feel that atmosphere, and to have been one of 700,000 was totally worth it. I was in france in 1998, but I didn't get to be in Paris at the Champs Elysee, but I got to be in seattle today, and that was special.
One unique thing about seattle that I would like to remark, even with 700,000 people in seattle today, and hours in the cold, and waiting for ferries, throughout the entire day, I didnt cross one rude person, everyone was kind to each other, and everyone gave each other space, and didn't push and shove and cut in line, or even jay walk, that I saw. That is incredibly impressive I think.
Well, Olympics start tomorrow. Let the partying continue. Im watching what I missed of the parade online.
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