Our son got married over the weekend. We love Lauren, our new daughter-in-law. Truly. Both of them bowl us over with their drive to do good. As I said in my toast during the reception, they want to change the world and we hope they will.
My wife Linda and I took note of the great number of people who played a part in making the wedding weekend wonderful. We are filled with gratitude that the bride and groom have so many in their lives who love them so much. We plan to reach out personally to many of them. But I need to say thank you to so many I had to create this post. Otherwise I'd be saying thank you so many times it might become a habit. Can't have that!
First, of course, thank you to Larry and Donna, the bride's parents, who threw a genuine bash. And thank you to Adam, her brother, and his beautiful young family, for welcoming us into it.
Thank you to Jerry and Betty, my in-laws, for taking me into their family 46(!) years ago. Jerry delivered a poem during the ceremony, and I mean delivered. Only a few in attendance knew him; when he shuffled forward to speak, a small man in obvious pain, I imagine most were hoping he could just get through it. But he recited his original work in a clear voice. His various images of light (comets, fireflies and more) enchanted us. He had us laughing out loud and weeping in turn. He is my Yoda, and I mean that with all seriousness. He quietly teaches and lives out a life worth living. I have consciously sought to imitate him. What a gift he has been to hundreds of people.
Thank you to my brothers for the work they put in to help our whole family join in the festivities. Thanks to Tim and Dennis, each of whom in his own way had to come a long way to get there. Thanks to Matt for shepherding our mom to and through the big day. And Dennis, mom is still talking about her turn on the dance floor in her wheelchair. Thank you.
A major thank you to our daughter Laura and her stand-up husband Sam. Wo, it is always a blessing to hear you sing. Your cool head and talent for pulling off events with easy grace did not come from your father or your mother. Sam, like you I did not know exactly how things at the rehearsal dinner would go. But I will say that having you there beforehand gave me a shot of confidence that we would pull it off—as we did. Oh, above all, thank you for Theo and Rory!
Thank you Paul and Kathy for bringing your whole family to the celebration. Kathy, we have long witnessed your love for children. Yet it was wonderful to see you connect so deeply with my grandson. I know we all wonder how many more times the whole Smith clan will gather. It was nice to have this one.
Thanks to Mike, James and Melvin, men who have, as one of you put it, inhabited different cul-de-sacs of Dan's life. Each of you has offered him love and support at critical junctures. As Linda told me when we drove away from that lovely visit with our dogs in the park, you can sometimes tell when a friend will last a lifetime. You represent three of those times.
Thanks to the people who showed kindness to our dogs in the elevator, to the guy at the convenience store who helped me load all that ice into my car, to the skilled cooks at the Bosphorous Cafe from which we got the rehearsal dinner and to whomever invented the map app on my smart phone.
Finally, thanks to all who attended the wedding. The bridal party was incredibly diverse: Indian-American, African-American, a Muslim wearing her head scarf, Causcasians. The entire room had a similar mix. If the future looks like this we will be grateful for that, as well.
When older folks complain about Millenials and still younger generations I try to find a gentle way to say, in effect, you must not have spent much time in direct contact with them. I have had the privilege of doing so for many years and they fill me with hope for the future. Thanks be to God for all of the above, and for more beside. And thank you for reading all the way to the end!
