This past weekend was my dear friend Chippy's wedding.
It was a wonderful four days. Everything went off without a hitch and everyone had a lovely time. Girl evening on Thursday, rehearsal dinner Friday. Saturday the wedding: Cocktails, good appetizers, simple and charming exchange of vows (why don't more people do that?).
Liquor was flowing, and we had an excellent dinner; folks got up and spoke for the couple including me. Great music and dancing after. Recovery brunch of Red Rocks Pizza and Bloody Marys Sunday.
But this is my blog: therefore All is About Me.
The rehearsal dinner was in itself quite nice, except for the torrential downpour during the 15 minutes prior as I walked to the restaurant. As the rain became more heavy I'd duck into a storefront but after a while, you know, you kinda give up and just lurch through. It was actually a bit liberating - I'm dressed to the nines, completely drenched and at that point who cares? It's raining buckets, the streets are overflowing, and Life is Good. Except for my shoes which are now beyond repair. And they were so cute!
Some kind soul handed me an umbrella as I got about halfway down King Street, which I promptly lost when I got to the restaurant. I went to the ladies room, semi-wrung out my dress (my hair was a certifiable disaster, o well). My sweet new polky-dotty dry clean only dress is now the most expensive and useless car waxing rag.
It was a great night.
The wedding itself was lovely. I took a couple of pictures but as per usual I was tearing up and I only got one decent shot. More pictures to come, maybe.
Chippy asked me to speak at the reception. I was honored. Chippy has a large family, a great many friends, and she asked ME.
No accounting for judgment.
I asked the shooter to please take a picture now prior to donning my reading glasses. Never trust a photographer.
Below is my speech. Thanks to my friend Marie who suggested a 'Top Ten' format. Feel free to steal it, change names, use as your own. I got a lot of AWWwwws, and laughter; especially after threatening bodily harm to the new groom (lesson: know your audience). I received many compliments afterwards so I color it a success:
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So first, two disclaimers. I’m an attorney so no shocker there:
I am not (overly) nervous right now nor do I have low blood
sugar. I have a disorder
that gives me a pronounced tremor.
Also I cry easily. Hand shake and
may cry. Unrelated but both
probable. You have been warned.
I am deeply touched that Chippy asked me to speak
at her wedding. So here it is:
The Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Chippy – And wish her the best with the love she
has found with Jack.
Number Ten: Makes a mean tuna casserole. We shared many a home-cooked
meal (usually her doing the cooking) and she made DC home for me.
Number Nine:
I like baseball but the whole ‘designated hitter’ thing, is, um, out of
my league to be honest so now with Jack around, I can just look at men in
tight baseball pants.*
Number Eight: The least judgmental person I know. Always there for me, listens to my
problems, and as justified as she may be to say I TOLD YOU SO, she never does.
Number Seven: Her full and unquestionable passion for protecting our
environment. I am so proud of her
work and not a little envious of all she’s accomplished.
Number Six:
Jack loves her so much. I am
grateful he has given her so much joy.
Although - and he has been warned - if he hurts
her I WILL kick him in the shins.
Just getting that on the record. Attorney disclaimer: There are now three disclaimers in this speech.
Number Five:
The memory of wild abandoned dancing in her apartment to ‘Twist and
Shout’, while watching ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’. Chippy has, in the best possible way, no shame.
Number Four:
Her two amazing children. I
don’t know Jack’s children well but I do know he loves them just as deeply as Chippy loves hers. Sandra and Tim
are fine people in their own right, but are so, in part, because Chippy raised
them.
Number Three: Love of travel, the best travel partner I’ve ever had. San Francisco, Napa, Chicago, Costa
Rica, New York City. Manhattan was
our own Ferris Bueller, and although we had some fabulous, never-to-be-repeated
adventures in New York, what really made it was I was there with Chippy. Thank you for one of the best trips I
have ever had, hands down, and that’s saying something.
Number Two:
Being my big sister. I met
her on a sunny summer day on the back porch of Nancy North’s house. Nancy said, “Hey you need to meet Chippy,
I think you two will hit it off.”
20 years later Chippy has continued to be the open, loving sister I
always wanted. Thank you Chips.
And the Number One Reason I Love Chippy…: She has the taste and sense to love me
too.
Chips: I love
you — and I wish you and Jack all the happiness you deserve.
*I actually like baseball quite a bit, in addition to the pants. Just a shout out to Jack.
