My daughter got married on Sunday. And young people rarely ask their parents to give the toasts at their weddings. For understandable reasons. Half of them are afraid of what Mom or Dad may embarrass them with. And the other half don’t believe what their parents say anyway.
And had I been asked, it is true, I would have wanted to announce how intelligent, hard-working, capable, beautiful, and caring my daughter is. And she would have been like, “But your my Mom.” And dismissed it all as if by being her mother I have no rational ability for discernment whatsoever.
And so fair enough. So I got to thinking, when I looked around the ballroom, of all the people that came to be there — some from the east coast, some on shoestring budgets, some having to make it back to work or school then next morning, some whom she would have liked to see more of over the years, and some who came against all manner of convenience or even comfort — and I would have said to her: “Look around this room at the caliber of people, and the quality of friendships and the number of people who would not miss being here for anything — and that says more than I can ever articulate about how loving and loveable you are. And that My Dear is the true measure of success.”
And then I would have had to acknowledge that a couple of people had actually come to see Keith also. And you know, in leading up to the wedding, people would ask if I were excited. And I knew what they were thinking as they scrutinized my face. Because we all know the parent that unfortunately has to feel like, “Please, NO…what are they thinking!!!!” And I found myself saying: “He loves her, he is hard-working, he treats her well, he is kind to her, and he isn’t hard on the eyeballs either. I could not feel more fortunate and happy.” And it is true. Keith is so capable and caring. He grew up in a family that taught him commitment and responsibility. It might seem like a little thing to young people, but when he was a boy, I remember I was carrying an ice chest. He ran over to take it from me and carry it. And I remember thinking — “No young men have manners any more — what the heck just happened?” But he was brought up with morals and has grown in to a man of character. (Minus one small bunny episode. Inside joke).
And so the short of it is, that had I been asked to make a toast, the above is what I would have said. And so I’m saying it now. That I believe with all my heart:
Mr. and Mrs. Harris, have the ingredients for Happily ever After
H.D. Anyone 