Thirty-one years ago (it can't be that long ago... And yet it is.) I became Mrs. Dyck (and yet remained Leanne to most). And on that auspicious day, I gave a toast. (Does a bride give a toast? Traditionally no, but this one did.) This short story is about that day and that toast.
(me at the mic—I asked two cousins and an aunt to take pictures at my wedding)
The
morning of my wedding day, my dad greeted me with, “Good morning,
Mrs. Dyck.”
I’d
been debating with myself about whether I should exchange Willetts
for Dyck—replace one man’s surname with another. That worry had
been taken off my shoulders, leaving room for a bigger worry—will I
get my speech written in time?
I’d broached the subject with Mom. “I want to write a speech to read
at my wedding.”
“You
don’t need that added pressure.”
She
just couldn’t understand how important it was to me. So I didn’t
ask for her help.
First
up that morning was the ceremony, and before that, preparing for the
ceremony. I had a window of time after the photo session and before
the reception. If I couldn’t get it written then, I’d have to
scrap the idea.
Byron—my
newly claimed husband—saw me with pen in hand and
asked, “What are you writing?”
“My
speech.”
“You
mean you haven’t written it yet.”
“I’m
writing it now.” I sent him away with a kiss.
My
pen didn’t run out of ink and under pressure my brain supplied…
“I
would like to lift a glass in appreciation of four very important
people. These people are so important, in fact, that without them
none of us would be here right now.
“They
taught Byron and me how to love. The value of a dollar. Never to stay
out too late on a weeknight. The value of good, hard work. To believe
in the word can. And never to leave the house without our keys
or clean underwear. I could go on, but they also taught us to be
brief. That life is short and time is precious. And so please join us
in a toast to our parents. To Ron, Doreen, Jim, and Oli—Ollie—Mom.”
Our
118 guests laughed at my fumble, but not in a mean way.
“Thank
you for everything, and we love you.”
(my husband and I are in the middle, my in-laws are on the left, and my parents are on the right)
August on this blog...
