Top Ten Non-NK Cruise Memories

I went into cruise 2011 more excited about seeing friends and celebrating life than I was about seeing the guys. Don't get me wrong, I mean it when I say I have absolutely no desire to take a cruise vacation that doesn't involve NKOTB, but it's not all about the guys. It's about the Sistah'hood, about seeing friends, about a new kind of reunion. So while I had special moments with each of the guys this year, I'm also taking home some incredible memories that simply involved the amazing women Danny, Donnie, Joe, Jonathan, and Jordan have brought into my life over the past three years. Here are this weekend's Top Ten:

10. Becoming an honorary ATL Blockhead (again…and again…)

9. Chillin’ at the Quiet Pool for hours with no agenda other than catching the rays we missed by over-applying sunblock on HMC. No hair braiding or straw market for us, thank you very much! (And no stalking the boys to Atlantis, either.)

8. The standing ovation Group A gave Danny after Anything for You. It brought me to tears to see a man who gets so little credit feel the power of our love. Moments like this remind me that while there are a few people who are definitely looking out for themselves (and only themselves) the state of this union is stronger than ever.

7. The power of the Sistah’hood-complete strangers joining forces to block out spot-stealing skanks or take pictures of me and my girls getting hugs from the guys.

6. ALPHAAAAAAAS!! Floating in the teal blue Caribbean ocean, watching the beach concert with my fellow Nu Kappas. I couldn’t have written a moment so perfect. (Although I’ve got the one-shot mini-sequel completely finished in my head already.) PS: I think Kris has a good group shot of the 5 of us. I didn't get one. =(

5. The day in Miami on Wednesday-just relaxing and eating some killer Cuban food with Kris, Tara, and Summer.

4. Meeting some incredible people from Twitter in person. Lots of hugs, OMGs, and, in my case, excessive blushing. I swear, at some point this summer I fully intend to learn how to take a compliment. (This is our photo op group. My camera is being a bitch so a lot of my pics with friends are on Kris' camera. I'll post them on Twitter asap!)

3. The rain on Red Carpet Night. For so many reasons this will go down in history as one of my favorite cruise memories. It just isn’t an NK epic moment without a colossal downpour. (This picture does not do the hilarity justice. I was laughing too hard to take a better one.)

2. Leaving and receiving love on our cabin doors. It happened last year but nothing like this year. Sorry I never made it down past Deck 7!

1. The most amazing cruise roommate EVER. No drama. Low maintenance. Lots of laughs. Lots of brainshare. A simple understanding that sometimes only children need to be only children for a little while. I love you, Kris. I cannot wait for our adventures together this summer.