My hands were trembling in front of 500 odd guests, had to grab onto the microphone holder thing so i didn't feel like a tremor was happening. =P
The speech:
“Love; a temporary insanity, curable by marriage.”
Ladies and gentlemen, Good evening.
Ai-Leen and I, we went to the same school since 7. As for Andrew, he was the boy in Chemistry tuition in batik shorts - Blue. Indigo pants, with white fishes, hairy legs in shorts. From then on, he was Fishy Pants. We became friends through the years. So of course I am HONOURED when they asked me to be part of this wedding. That was the first thing I felt. The second thing I felt was DREAD. I have to give a speech. Well, here goes.
First of all, to those who do not know Ai-Leen, she is what you would describe as a cili padi! You know what they say about cili padi(s). Smallish but power packed. She’s full of energy, always on the go, detailed, a project manager and never looks back.
Second, ADVENTURE. She’s always looking for the next big thing to do. Today I can impress friends and acquaintances that i’ve done White River Rafting only because Ai-Leen organizes adventure trips like this!
And thirdly, Ai-Leen taught me that good friends are hard to find, and that friends are more important than boyfriends. Wow, now that she’s getting married, I wonder if that will still hold true over husbands? I hope so! You see, we are travel buddies. We’ve gone to Cambodia and Cameron Highlands together. It’s not a long list yet but this I know, it will be a life long tradition. Yes?
Even though we see each other only sparingly now, whenever we are together again, we pick right up from where we left off, and it always seems as if we haven’t been apart at all. I’m not sure how we started our friendship, but i’m glad that we are still dear friends until this very point. And for the record, I envy them because they are each other’s dear friend / travel buddy / and confidant.
I look so forward to the future of these two. They are a perfect match, and I know they will remain not only lovers, but friends, for all of their lives. They just seem to have that certain certain something about them, and i know that theirs will truly be – a match made in heaven.
While preparing for this speech, i was thinking hmm, there has to be some sort of advice written in. Not because it’s precious opportunity to drill Andrew with hundreds guests as witnesses.. but more so because it is just customary. So what advice to give to a metrosexual guy who reads Ai-Leen’s CLEOs. Here goes.
#1 - For most women a good cry is like a good nose-blow: when you have a cold, it just clears your head. Men just don’t get it when it comes to the emotions. He learns s-l-o-w. Don’t try to advise yet. Just LISTEN and lend a shoulder.
#2 - There is a belief that men talk three times lesser than women in a day. So say if woman uses 21,000 words then men would use only 7,000 words. The typical scenario is this, when man comes home from work at night and has used up 6,850 words. So with only 150 left over, he just wants to relax and not do more talking. And then the woman welcomes the husband when he comes back with about 7,150 words left over. And that is where all the problems start.
# 3 -Behind every great man is a great woman. ONE. Andrew!
All things considered. So Andrew and Ai-Leen I need you to stand now. Andrew, please hold both your right hands on top of hers and look her in the eyes. Take a moment to feel how it feels..because this will be the last time that you have the upperhand.
Ai-Leen, listen to me. No matter what, Andrew is the right guy. If you have a problem come talk to me.
My wishes for Ai Leen and Andrew are that they have a continued loving friendship and partnership, that they enjoy success and laughter, and that they always see and talk with their heart. Let today be the building block for all the years to come.
Please raise your glasses while I propose a toast:
Congratulations to both Ai-Leen and Fishy Pants. May your life be filled with joy and happiness. To Andrew and Ai-Leen, “To Love, To Laughter, To Happily Ever After”! Cheers!
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