My friend Jim got married this past Saturday and I was honored to be his best man. I really wanted to think up some memorable speech. I know Jim could be sensitive but I was thinking he knows what to expect from me. I thought about the speech from the day he asked me. My first draft was a real softy, sensitive speech. When I practiced it, I even almost cried. It talked about how much he has done for me and how he has grown into a great guy. Because of family troubles in my life I discussed how even though we don't have the same blood running through our veins he would always be FAMILY. Family overcomes everything. And through dozens of arguments, we are still close friends.
However, I thought it might be too softy. I am kinda tired of everyone seeing me as a sensitive, over-emotional freak. So I went the opposite way and roasted him. I used some generic jokes to keep the audience involved but I used a lot of personal stuff. I should have thrown more of the softy in there. I thought about how everyone loved my Auntie Shirley's speech to Mary Anne and me at our wedding. She basically ripped me a new one and the crowd loved it. BUT, this wasn't the same crowd. I wanted my speech for Jim to be memorable.
There were a lot of expectations. The Maid of Honor told me how she has heard that my speeches are really funny and that she was looking forward to it. I figured Jim and Joy must have told her this so I better make this funny. I also do an impersonation of Jim that I left out of the speech. But when I practiced to another friend, I was told that I have to do it. I shouldn't have.
The bottomline is I don't like to regret my actions. I always do what I think is best. Basically, I made a speech for the crowd and not for one of my closest friends. And I do regret that. Thankfully, like I said earlier, he is family and family gets through EVERYTHING. If I could do it over again, I would just say...
I have looked up to you for a long time. We have been through a lot together. We have survived everything the world has thrown at us and we remain the best of friends.
In sports, everytime I was scared, you gave me confidence. At buri buri in the war against those guys bigger than us, you took all the cheap shots and willed us to win. During the turkey bowl, you took down the big running back everyone feared and let us know we had nothing to be afraid of. Your friends watched as your heart carried you through a grueling marathon that you courageously ran for your father. And when your friends needed you to play a softball game that same day, despite your pain, you played because we needed you, because I needed you. Not only did you play, but you played great going 3 for 3. That was one of the most amazing displays of heart I have ever seen.
Jim, I have told you before, you are my greatest teammate. Even when you have taken me out of games (when you shouldn't have) you always tried to do what was best for the team. Off the field you are my greatest friend. We don't always see eye to eye but when i look at you, I can always see your heart, your loyalty, your passion. And no one can ever take that away.
And now you have Joy who has even magnified your positives and maybe even erased some of your negatives. Joy you are so lucky to have this great man loving you for the rest of your life. God blessed the two of you by allowing you to find each other. He also blessed me by allowing me to be a part of your lives, to witness and to feel the great love you have for each other.
I wish you two the best and may bad fortune always chase you and never catch up. I love you guys!
However, I thought it might be too softy. I am kinda tired of everyone seeing me as a sensitive, over-emotional freak. So I went the opposite way and roasted him. I used some generic jokes to keep the audience involved but I used a lot of personal stuff. I should have thrown more of the softy in there. I thought about how everyone loved my Auntie Shirley's speech to Mary Anne and me at our wedding. She basically ripped me a new one and the crowd loved it. BUT, this wasn't the same crowd. I wanted my speech for Jim to be memorable.
There were a lot of expectations. The Maid of Honor told me how she has heard that my speeches are really funny and that she was looking forward to it. I figured Jim and Joy must have told her this so I better make this funny. I also do an impersonation of Jim that I left out of the speech. But when I practiced to another friend, I was told that I have to do it. I shouldn't have.
The bottomline is I don't like to regret my actions. I always do what I think is best. Basically, I made a speech for the crowd and not for one of my closest friends. And I do regret that. Thankfully, like I said earlier, he is family and family gets through EVERYTHING. If I could do it over again, I would just say...
I have looked up to you for a long time. We have been through a lot together. We have survived everything the world has thrown at us and we remain the best of friends.
In sports, everytime I was scared, you gave me confidence. At buri buri in the war against those guys bigger than us, you took all the cheap shots and willed us to win. During the turkey bowl, you took down the big running back everyone feared and let us know we had nothing to be afraid of. Your friends watched as your heart carried you through a grueling marathon that you courageously ran for your father. And when your friends needed you to play a softball game that same day, despite your pain, you played because we needed you, because I needed you. Not only did you play, but you played great going 3 for 3. That was one of the most amazing displays of heart I have ever seen.
Jim, I have told you before, you are my greatest teammate. Even when you have taken me out of games (when you shouldn't have) you always tried to do what was best for the team. Off the field you are my greatest friend. We don't always see eye to eye but when i look at you, I can always see your heart, your loyalty, your passion. And no one can ever take that away.
And now you have Joy who has even magnified your positives and maybe even erased some of your negatives. Joy you are so lucky to have this great man loving you for the rest of your life. God blessed the two of you by allowing you to find each other. He also blessed me by allowing me to be a part of your lives, to witness and to feel the great love you have for each other.
I wish you two the best and may bad fortune always chase you and never catch up. I love you guys!
1 comment:
I was there for the live one, and loved it, except for the joke about him being a magician. Heh heh... But this is a great speech as well! Good job, best man!
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