Three Days to Liftoff!

Easter Sunday, and a beautiful spring day in Ohio is off to a nice start.  Looking forward to the family gathering at sister-in-law Mona's in a few hours for the usual fete d'extraordinaire!  Just sneaking in a few minutes beforehand to get the blog going for the upcoming liftoff from the USA to the UK and Ireland.

This is an interesting trip in that the featured event is the wedding of Jennifer Orion Gordon to Anthony Bath next Saturday, April 26 in Roxton Chapel somewhere in England - one of those 'Shire places.   Not only is the entire immediate family going - Aaron, Melissa, Chloe, Jeff, and Leigh - but also dear friends Ray Urban and Mary Lee Hess, and Connie Melton.   We'll also be joined by niece Becky and husband Stewart Voss who are honeymooning, first, in London, meeting us at the 'Shire place, then going on to Scotland.

But wait, there's more!  Friday, April 25 is Cheryl's birthday, and the whole family trip is in celebration of our 25th. anniversary.  Yes, that anniversary doesn't actually occur until September 23, 2014, but we've long talked about taking our kids somewhere to celebrate that momentous occasion, and Jenny and Anthony provided the opportunity . .  .just a few months early.   And, Ray, ML, and Connie all said "What the hell.  We're in, too!".    So, should be more than a great time.

After the wedding, we're going to the English equivalent of rock and roll Mecca - Liverpool - for a couple days.   Already have tickets for the Beatles tour, and can't wait to drink a cold one and listen to live music at The Cavern Club.  From there, it is a 3-hour ferry ride across the Irish sea to Dublin for overnight, then a group tour of beautiful southern Ireland in the springtime and flying back home from Shannon, Ireland.

As with past vacations, I like to combine a love of writing with a few photos (yes, it smacks of "My Summer Vacation" like in grade school but I can't help myself!).  So, take a few minutes and follow along as the Mace family and our friends see if we can bring some American barbarianism to England and Ireland.   There will be a new posting every day, more or less, so hopefully you'll enjoy!