I just returned from my son Asa’s wedding.
A beautiful spot, high on a knoll above the Pacific in Sayulita, Mexico.
This laid back, hippy Mexican surfing town was the ideal setting for an astoundingly beautiful and iconic celebration.
A whole new group of people to meet from Em’s family. Time to hang out with Asa’s friends, many that I’ve know for a decade or more.
It was perfect actually.
The entire scene was from the heart, tradition made personal and casual.
It felt just right and natural.
I gave a little speech–the toast–and was uncharacteristically nervous.
The evening and the wine (I was drinking Belluard Gringet from Savoie) made me forget the words completely and recreate it again at the spur of the moment.
It went down really well.
The DJ was great and we danced for hours.
A magical evening.
(The Toast–Raising a Glass to Asa and Em.)
Thinking about Em and Asa is easy.
I know them well and love them both.
Finding the right words for this occasion has been surprisingly difficult.
Predictably I went to the movies for the answer.
And been thinking a lot about a scene from one of my favorites, Lost in Translation.
In the scene Bill Murray is chatting about what it means to be a parent.
He says:
That the most amazing thing about having children is that from the very moment they are born, they become the most interesting person in the world to you.
They simply draw their first breath and immediately they are the center of the world.
An amazingly simple truth that captures today for me.
True for myself and Asa. True certainly for Em and her parents. True for every one.
I’ve also been thinking about my obsessions with movies and how I’ve passed it along to Asa.
I remember that when he was 12, we powered through an all nighter watching Godfather 1 and 2, then headed to the theatre for the first showing of Part 3.
This mania binds us together even today.
We are constantly texting each other lines from Trading Places—Looking Good Billy Rae– or Waynes World—You will be mine!– or a thousand others.
To you Em–You had us at hello!
Seriously.
We have loved you since the first time we met you.
When you walked into our apartment, beat from the redeye and understandably nervous at meeting me.
Today, you are simply part of our lives. Part of our family even before this beautiful ceremony.
I need to step aside and let my mom, Shirley, the 96-year old matriarch of the Waldstein clan have a say here.
She has a serious bond with Asa and we spoke about the wedding before I left. Actually many many many times!
I’ll try to be her voice.
Em, she told me that she loves your unabashed smile, your big heart and an even bigger capacity for happiness.
She loves that you and Asa have teamed up together.
In her words, she considers each of you a great catch for each other!
She’s is seriously thrilled, actually in Yiddish she is kvelling, from the bottom of her heart that you have found each other
If she was here now, I know exactly how she would end this toast.
She would most raise her glass and shout:
Mazel Tov and Le Chiam and welcome Em to the family.
We couldn’t agree more.
So congrats and Mazel Tov to the both of you. We love you very much.
