What does tidying up your life have to do with becoming a clown in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Apparently, more than you might think.
Tyler Moore (Tidy Dad) shares how a childhood tradition of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Kentucky eventually led to attending the parade with his own kids in New York City, becoming a Ronald McDonald balloon handler, touring Macy’s Studio, and now applying to become a clown in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And The New York Times broke the news before he did.
Tyler takes you behind the scenes of his experience as a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon handler, including a 3:30 a.m. call time, wrangling Ronald McDonald through Manhattan, crouching underneath the Bluey balloon, and learning how the floats, balloons, costumes, and props are handmade at Macy’s Studio.
Tidying up your life isn’t only about decluttering your home, creating better routines, or getting everyone out the door on time. Sometimes it’s about making space for something that serves absolutely no practical purpose, except that it brings you joy.
The question is, “Are we leaving enough room in our ordinary lives for the extraordinary?” Maybe even becoming a clown.
Read Tyler’s SIX features in The New York Times (in the episode I mentioned four articles, but while I was grabbing the links, I realized there were a couple more!)
* 2017: In Queens, a Rent-Stabilized Family Compound
* 2024: Crowds Turn Out for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Despite Rain
* 2025: The Easiest Way to Feel More Organized
* 2025: 5 Organizing Books to Bring Order to Chaos
* 2026: In This Housing Market, the Second Home Comes First
* 2026: The Influencers’ Thanksgiving
More from Tidy Dad:
📚 Order Tidy Up Your Life (available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook)
🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times on Substack
📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad
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