The Lollipop Road

While attending a travel writer’s conference this weekend I literally ran into the NYC Gay Pride Parade. Being the inquisitive writer that I am, I instantly saw a story in the making. I know, you’re thinking – how the heck does Gay Pride fit in with family travel? I had the same question when I began this article.

Inspired by an amazing presentation by blogger Gary Arndt from Everything-Everywhere earlier that morning, I just started snapping photos. As I meandered through the forming crowd, I thought – this is silly – I’ll never make a story of this, never mind a story that I can actually publish; I kept walking and snapping nonetheless, trusting my instinct that the story would find me. There were people of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicity. Some wore colorful clothing, some wore less clothing, others were dressed for a formal ball, but most of them were dressed much like me (which is usually pretty boring). There was one common thread that permeated the crowd, however, and that was excited anticipation.

I started to look for families – who are they and what is their story. I was convinced that there had to be families ready to enjoy the festivities – after all, this is a parade. I must have walked a mile, searching the crowd, when the parade came to life with a roaring cheer and nearly everyone lurched forward to peer up the road to see the first participants. Affectionately hawked as Dykes on Bikes by the colorfully dressed young men in skirts who were perched atop the grandstand, the bikes roared and the crowd cheered.

Just as I was about to abandon my quest, I looked up and there in front of me were two kids who were dancing and bobbing to the racing tune that sent the crowd wild. They were part of a float that continued to entertain the now growing crowd. Just at that moment, I noticed a young Asian woman pushing a cart loaded with Pride flags and other trinkets. By her side was her young daughter who seemed fascinated by the festivities. A short way down the road a well dressed family pushing a stroller was exchanging pleasantries with a neighbor – “Happy Pride” they exchanged.

As I circled back to the beginning of the route, I watched the fleeing tourists, some seemingly fleeing in fear while others in bewilderment. On my final leg I discovered several families proudly pressed up against the metal barriers waiting for the next bit of excitement to come along. Mothers with sons, mothers with daughters, fathers with children – families enjoying a parade.

I began to think about how similar this journey was to traveling around the world. The social contrasts, the cultural balance, diversity – some of the same reasons we travel, the same reasons that we share travel with our kids and the same reasons that these families share Pride with their children. The more we are different, the more we seem the same. I was grateful for the chance to have found family in what some may describe as an unusual place – it gives me hope for a new generation of travelers.

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