My son, first born and one of four, and his wife to be asked me to make a speech at their wedding. I'm going to post it here but prefix it by describing the anticipated general audience. I might say I am surprised at the conservatism of the young people of the day. It seems the bulk of them still believe in Mognanamy and happy ever after. Despite some of them, as with my son and his fiancé, having already had a marriage or a child bearing relationship. This wedding, second for the bride, will be a white wedding. One for which my son is selling his twin cab ute to fund. So, in my speech I am somewhat indulging this mindset. But, at the same time I am honestly sharing thoughts on my own experience, even though i totally accept getting married and having children is not on everyones' agenda. And noteworthy is that when writing this speech at the back of my mind was the knowledge that my ex, who I do not speak with at all would be present. I felt obliged to make my speech that in no way derided him. Much as I'd love to. No, not really. As it happens i just found out my ex wont be attending. But that's a whole other story. A bit of backstory; my son has a four year old daughter, Kayla, to another lady. The bride has another child, Michael, to her first husband. And they have a daughter, Grace, to each other, conceived prior to my son even breaking up officially with the mother of his first child. The bride is an old school friend of my daughter, the grooms' sister. I think they may have had a brief fling back in their school days.
So the speech;
Most of us are looking for love, if we haven't found it already. The 'one'. And when you find the one, well, most end up dressing up fancy and declaring it to the world. You've found the one. Yay! Well, you think you've found the one, but its not about just one at all.
When you have your first child you can't wait to love them. It's a given. Then if you have another one - you love the first one so much you might have some concerns that you have enough love for someone else in your life. But if you go there, by the time you have a third baby, you know from your second that of course you have enough love to go around. If you're crazy enough to have a fourth you might go back to having concerns about there being enough love. But of course there is. There's just not enough room in the car! All that love, just from loving the one.
But wait, there's more!
Those little kiddies go off to school and make friends. They bring those friends home and dang if you don't start loving some of them too! I look around this room and see some of those kids who worked their way into my heart. Two right here at the bridal table; Courtney, Nathan.
But wait, there's more!
Then your kids start dating and if you're lucky you start loving their chosen ones. Looking around the room i see some of them too. Alan, Radha - oh and courtney, your name keeps popping up.
But wait, there's more!
Then your kids have kids! And by then your heart's such a rubbery pliable blob so used to loving that you just can't get enough. You can't wait for more, and more, and more. In my case I didn't have to wait too long.
Cal and Courtney have made a great start, today they are celebrating more than just finding their one and onlys and a life together forever. They are celebrating love and its just as well they've both got a lot of love to give - they are up to their necks in it already. Courtney, I know you're the one for Cal, your love for him has really bought out the best in him. Your caring and love for kayla has made her extended family experience a bonus in her life. And thank you for bringing two more loves, Michael and Grace into our lives, not to mention the rest of your family. So much love. Welcome to our family.
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