Roger and Us

Roger is our cruise mascot; Roger Rabbit, that is.

Some years ago, both Marion and I were (small) investors in a film partnership which made Who Framed Roger Rabbit, among other films. Being movie fans, we both saw, and loved the movie. For Marion's birthday that year, which would fall at the beginning of one of our first, long summer cruises, I brought a Roger Rabbit doll, which sat on the hanging locker, presenting her real gift to her. I had gone down the the boat the previous night to set Roger out, but for some reason, Marion needed to go down the boat. I went along, hoping to somehow keep the surprise hidden, or at least be there for the early discovery.

Marion went on board and with her usual single-mindedness, did whatever she needed to do, scanned what seemed like the entire boat, and left. Roger had made himself invisible.

The next morning, as we set off, Roger remained invisible for a good long while, until he presented himself, and the gift. Marion swears she had never seen him before.

In the movie, after putting his detective friend through all kinds of trouble, while handcuffed to him but trying to remain hidden, Roger simply slips his hand out of the cuff. When confronted, and asked why he didn't just do that before, Roger replies, "because it wouldn't have been funny." That's Roger.

We had many problems on that trip including weather, mechanical problems, and the usual mishaps which follow cruisers around. We've always blamed Roger for these goings on, and in retrospect, found humor in them. We've noticed that on the radio, many boaters seem compelled to speak his name. It's "Roger that", and "that's a Roger", and "Roger, out". Roger certainly is well known.

We continue to invite the rabbit along with us, and fly our Jolly Roger from the aft stay in port to help others find us, and humor in their daily trials.