Arrivederci

To celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary, we didn't have a party, we didn't buy cards, we didn't buy presents. Instead we're sending them on vacation to a place my mother has always wanted to see: Italian City of Canals and Gondolas.

Three of their daughters are going along to help make sure the vacation runs smoothly. Urban Sophisticate Sister is an experienced traveler who is good at getting anyone to do what she wants, even when they don't speak her language. Red-haired Sister, who has also traveled quite a bit, always takes care of everyone around her, which makes her an important addition to the trip. And me? My role is to make my father feel gleeful that someone else gets motion sickness worse than he does.

Our adventure begins today, with a trip to the Big City Like No Other area, where we will meet up with Red-haired Sister and Urban Sophisticate before getting on a plane together to fly over the ocean. I'll be taking photos and keeping a journal, and I should have all kinds of stories when I return.