Early morning in Pasadena with Kate, an hour east of Corona. Parade runs 8-10; we get there at 4:30 to be sure of our front row seats, breakfast, and nearby parking that Kate's dentist's church provides as a fundraiser for their missionary activities in Latin America. Reality is unlike TV, much more intimate. Crowd is large, happy, friendly, relaxed. A great family event; many stay overnight on the sidewalk to reserve a good view, with chairs, air mattresses, blankets, and charcoal grills for food and warmth.

Sweetest moment. Some young Hispanic schoolboys sitting behind us saw Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on top of a stage coach in a cowboy hat and called out to him in accented English, "Kareem, Kareem!" The wagon stopped briefly, and Kareem looked over and waved to the boys, who shouted out excitedly, "We read your book!"