Below is the toast I had the privilege of giving as best man to Eric at his and Bonnie's wedding on 10/10/10. Not the best thing I've ever written, and I think it benefits from being read aloud, but nonetheless, it comes from the heart:
I'd like start off by saying that I am truly honored to be Eric’s best man, and I am so happy for the two of you.
I became good friends with Eric at Amherst, and our friendship really grew when I also fell for his first love. The bicycle. Luckily, there is more than one bicycle, so it didn’t become a contentious love triangle.
Although we now live miles apart, we maintain a strong friendship. We’ve both shared personal struggles over the years; including those involving the fairer sex. I will never forget Eric standing by me a couple years back when I was having a difficult time, even though I was acting like a total jerk. What started as a miserable vacation turned into a wonderful surprise as we both visited Acadia for the first time and fell in love... with the park. As most of you know, that park a year later would be the site for Eric’s proposal to Bonnie. But Bonnie, even though you stole his heart, I will always be the first person to have shared a small two-man tent with him for a week in Acadia.
But Bonnie, you are a lucky young woman. Eric is an amazing guy. And particularly well-suited as a husband. Consider this – his love of chick flicks means you will always be able to agree on a movie. And while Eric is the one who convinced me to start shaving my legs (only in the Summer), you are the one who will always be able to share razors with him.
But you will have some important duties now that you are his wife. For instance, now you will have to be the one who picks him up when he gets 2 flat tires miles from home in the cold pouring rain. I can give you this advice – after an experience like that, a hot shower and a beer (in the shower) go a long way.
And there may be days when you will wonder who the woman in the relationship is. After all, Eric does have a particularly strong affinity for pink and does wear an earring. But you’ll never have to wonder who the prettier one is. And Eric, while you are a good looking guy, I’m talking about Bonnie here.
But I really think the luckier person here is Eric. You are marrying an amazing young lady. She is beautiful, kind, intelligent, and most importantly, puts up with your idiosyncrasies, including writing ridiculous haikus (did you notice his biography of me on the wedding site is a haiku?). But most importantly, you put up with him hanging out with me.
And Bonnie, this guy really, really loves you. I knew, as soon as you started dating, he was yours if you would have him.
And Eric, as your best man, I feel some duty to challenge you. As some of you may know, I am a Christian, and I take my faith seriously. I don’t want to be preachy, so I’ll keep it simple. In the Bible, marriage is given as the example for Christ’s relationship to the church. And in that relationship, Christ dies for the church. I know this is a high calling, and I’m not even sure how to live up to this, but my challenge to you, Eric, is to be that type of husband. A life-giving husband.
So in conclusion, I can’t say enough how happy and excited I am for you two. And Bonnie, even though you are now married, I hope you don’t mind me being a third wheel on your trips to Acadia. But don’t worry - you’ll now get the spot right next to Eric. And if you ever need to get him out of your hair, just give me a call and I’ll snuggle up with him in a tent on a cold Winter’s weekend in New Hampshire.
I look forward to watching you grow old together. So let’s lift our glasses to Eric and Bonnie, and a lifetime of joy and love.
