This last year has been the year of the weddings for Robbie & I, and we have attended nine such events near and far in the last year or so, and missed one or two more we really would have liked to attend besides. We are thrilled that almost all of the couples in question are here today, so I hesitate to say what my notes tell me comes next . . . in my opinion--which I admit may be just a touch biased--this event here in beautiful romantic Waltham is the best wedding I've been to yet! It should be patently clear why if you consider Robbie--whom I hope, at this point, has finally concluded that I am not just in it for the dog! Robs, you slay me. The caring qualities you show, the fun we have together, your general sexiness, your intelligence, reliability, sense of humor, your many glacier encrusted mountain climbing exploits (which one day I hope to equal with you at my side), your acceptance of, and incredible hospitality to, my family, the way we challenge one another, & especially the way you forgive me on the (very rare) occasions when I screw up--all of this and more is what left me feeling some time ago never more certain that you & I were right together. And, wonder of wonders, you seem to have come to the same conclusion about me--which speaks even more to your qualities. Please raise your glasses again in a toast to my beautiful bride.
I hope you will all indulge me in letting me omit specific names when thanking the many, many people who have helped us with some aspect of this event. Writing this little speech at 1:30am this morning, I found myself lacking confidence that I was capable of hitting each and every name without making the classic gaffe of omitting just one. We wanted to include our community of family and friends in our wedding, and we did so by prevailing on our guests to take on major tasks such as music, invitation artwork, photography, flowers, throwing enormous parties for visiting family and friends, accommodating visitors in their homes--the list goes on and on. Our most grateful thanks to each and every one of you. I do want to name specifically Maria Daniels and Suzanne Greenwald, who had the insight to make the match between Robbie and I, in spite of two degrees of separation (that is to say, Suzanne did not know me, nor did Maria know Robbie, possible passing acquaintance aside). But for them, none of us would be here. Robbie, appropriately enough, first met Suzanne's husband Jeff on a bus in South Africa several years ago, thereby setting in motion a chain of events which led to today. Likewise, had my mom, Esther, not produced & raised me, together, of course, with my late father, Frank, there would be little reason for this party. Mom, I hope it's clear that I have a whole lot more to thank you for than simply organizing yesterday’ˇÇs tea party. And, Ann and Arnie Singal, as well as the extended Singal & Rosenthal family have welcomed me from the start in an unquestioning, relaxed, and incredibly generous way. It means a lot, especially to an immigrant, even one who has been settled in the Boston area for as long as I have. Ann & Arnie, and Esther, are our generous respective hosts at today's function, and yesterdays. I propose a final toast: to my mother, Esther, and to Ann & Arnie Singal.