June 12, 2009
Toasting Marie
So, one of my best friends, Marie, got married in April and the party in her hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, was May 30. I traveled down there for what was an outstanding time. Here is, more or less, what I said to those gathered to celebrate:
“I have never been one to pass up the chance to give Marie a hard time. So, brace yourself! There is a very fine line between roast and toast — let’s hope I get it right.
“Marie and I met about 10 years ago in a volunteer organization, Indianapolis Ambassadors. About five years ago, I moved into her neighborhood, because I just couldn’t get enough of her. We would walk the dogs many evenings, talking about meeting people, online dating, good dates and bad dates. But it was mostly bad dates. [At this point, the DJ inserted a well-timed rim shot, which scared the bejeebers out of me.]
“But then, when you least expect it, when you’ve stopped looking for it, you meet someone who totally completes you. Someone you didn’t even know you were looking for and yet feels like the other half of your soul. It’s been a joy and an inspiration to watch Will and Marie fall in love and develop their relationship.
“Marleen [Marie's mom], I hope that you are proud of the wonderful, caring, witty woman you and Norman have raised. She’s the best friend I could have dreamed of, even if she is only a micro-economist [long-running inside joke].
“Now, Marie, I know that only one thing could make this night more perfect for you, and that’s if your dad could be here. But I know that, wherever he is, he’s stopped fishing that great salmon run in the sky and is looking down, blessing this marriage. Because all he ever wanted was for his little girl to be happy, and I am here to tell him that you are.
“So, let’s all raise our glasses in a toast to Will and Marie. May you have a long and happy life together.”
The things I wish I had rememebered to include in my toast
- reminding everyone that Marie is one year, two months older than I am. (I never miss a chance to remind her of that.)
- warned Will about how she snores, especially in the boat cutty in the fresh air of Vancouver Island.
- told a few stories about our home improvement escapades, such as laughing like Beavis and Butthead when reading the chandelier installation directions that referred to the “nipple” and Marie watching while I crawled out my bathroom window to nail a tarp over the hole in my roof (in my pajamas). Marie has always been there for me, and has always had the phone predialed with 9-1, with her finger poised over the 1 again, just in case.
marie Truesdell said,
June 26, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I have to say this was a spectacular toast and made me cry (even now re-reading it). THanks darlin – you are the best!!!!