originally posted on 7/20/2019
Photo: Horwood Collection. View full-sized image.
What makes ACE such a great and unique organization? For starters, it’s the love of coasters. But then, and probably of equal importance, there are the lasting and wonderful friendships made and nourished through the organization. Members love to read about coasters and events that somehow become part of the ACE coaster milestones.
ACEers celebrate other milestones besides coasters. This was ever so evident April 6 when ACE members of 25 years, Rod and Betsy (Connie) Boorse celebrated a milestone, their 50th wedding anniversary. The event was held at Tucson’s Hacienda del Sol set amid desert cacti and other Sonoran flora. But upon entering the venue, one could not help but notice a rather unusual “coaster car.” Was it, perhaps, one of Harry Traver’s lost and now found coasters? Obviously, it was not but the design was clever to say the least. The logo, B50 (figure that one out) was on the front, and guests could sit in the front seat with a large photo of Rod and Betsy “riding” behind. Designed and fabricated by several family members, the ride could be enjoyed even by noncoaster folks. From this point, guests began to sense that this celebration might have some rather “different” elements to it.
Photo: Horwood Collection. View full-sized image.
Cleverly integrated coaster “décor” was quite evident. In the dining area, each chair was adorned with one of Rod’s and Betsy’s many T-shirts. So rather than searching for name cards, guests had to decide where they wanted to sit as indicated by the T-shirt (“Hmm, will that be a coaster, an ACE Con or a park where I’m going to sit?”). Similar to an ACE banquet in which guests can watch videos, the dinner featured a “This Is Your Life” video with lots of coasters interspersed between other life moments, made by Rod and Betsy’s clever kids and grandchildren. Especially cute was a photo of Betsy reading a coaster book to her then newly born granddaughter (showing her “the ropes” on how to ride a coaster). Then there was the cake. This was not your usual cake but, yes, it had to be of a coaster. No detail was spared when it came to tracking, train and even a tunnel. It had the look of Expedition Everest. While the cake was yummy, it was sad to cut a piece of the coaster.
ACE is special, and to be part of a 50th wedding anniversary celebration of fellow ACEers is even more so. Congratulations!
— Celia Horwood
@#$%&!
#ACENews