R Family Vacations

It is Saturday afternoon. Morgan is asleep in the crib. McKenzie is asleep on the floor in the living room. Kim and Maddie are softly snoring in the bedroom while I sit on the couch watching the HBO Documentary All Aboard Rosie's Family Cruise. From minute one of the movie, I was back on the Norwgian Dawn with the O'Donnell family and hundreds of other families like ours, embarking on a new adventure.

I remember hearing about this brand new company, R Family Vacations, rumored to be run by Kelli O'Donnell. As a travel agent, I had to know more. What were they doing? How was this going to work? A boat full of gay families? And celebrities would be on board? How incredible is that? I had to be part of this. So we signed up.

That first cruise was a week in paradise. Every detail of that week is flooding back and I am so happy we took part. I remember the comedians like Poppy Champlain, who made me laugh until I thought I would wet my pants. I remember the beautiful families from all over the world. I remember seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time and sailing around her with a couple thousand people dancing on the deck of the ship. I remember the incredible teenagers on board, like Hope from Staten Island, who amazed us with her insight and wisdom. I was so excited to see Hope on other cruises, always with her 2 dads. I remember thinking I hope Maddie would be something like her someday. I think I shared that with Hope. I heard she graduated from high school and is now finishing up in college. I remember the first time I saw Rosie up close and how thrilling it was to stand inches away from an icon who was a mother just like me. I remember her sitting at the next table and her yelling at Parker to put all 4 legs of his chair on the floor. That's a mom.

I remember being amazed by all the talent Rosie brought with her. I remember seeing first hand how incredible her wife is. I remember feeling like we were suspended in time on the ship in a big gay bubble. It was truly the coolest thing I had ever taken part in. I felt connected to a larger community to which I would never have gained access had I not been a lesbian. I remember disembarking in New York at the end of the week and feeling so sad to leave the bubble of love.

We took part in a few more cruises with Rosie and then had to take a break for financial reasons. Finally, we're headed to Alaska this summer with Rosie and the gang. I am so glad I am watching this documentary. I am so glad to remember the wonder of that first cruise. Seeing those memories on the screen makes me proud to be who I am, even sitting on my couch in the suburbs. I am proud of the family we have created. I am proud of the community to which we belong. I am proud to be associated with companies like Family Vacations, who make the impossible possible for so many families. I will never forget it.