The Big Wish

2009 is the City of Rochester's 175th Anniversary. To commemorate this event, and to kick the Anniversary celebration off in style, the City is bringing in 2009 with their New Year's Eve Big Wish Celebration.

What is the Big Wish, you ask? Great question. It is an invitation to the Rochester community to send in their hopes and wishes for the City's 175th Anniversary and New Year. The wishes will then be placed in a 10' diameter steel globe that was built by a local sculptor. The globe will be located on the Sister Cities pedestrian bridge in downtown Rochester, and at 9:30 pm New Years Eve, will be set ablaze in hopes that the wishes inside will come true.

So, why am I so interested in this? Well, as part of the celebration for the Big Wish, the City has assembled 175 local children to participate in the Big Wish 175 Community Chorus, and Gavin has been selected to participate! The chorus will kick-off the Big Wish celebration at 9pm by singing When You Wish Upon a Star around the Big Wish Globe, before it is ignited. Then, they will all have a front row seat for the fireworks display at 10pm.

Saturday morning, Gavin and I went down to the Blue Cross Arena for the event rehearsal. He was very cute. A bundle of nerves, and excitement. He is the youngest child participating, and he asked me on our way in the door of the Arena if the older kids would make fun of him for being so little. I can remember that terror from my childhood. He wore such a brave face, and made me so proud as he stood up on the risers in the FRONT ROW! As expected, within the first hour of the rehearsal, he had made two new friends, and all of the nerves were gone.

Gavin has been practicing the song all week, and knows the words perfect. We are all very excited for Wednesday nights big event. If you are available, I highly encourage you to join us downtown for the event. 9pm at the Sister Cities Pedestrian Bridge (by the Convention Center). Donna and I will be easy to spot in the crowd. We will be the parents GLOWING with pride.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!