To My Sister On Her Wedding Day

This is the speech I made at my sister's wedding......

Good Evening,

For those of you that don't know me, I'm Cari's older sister Amanda or Mandy depending on what point in life you met me. As Cari wrote almost 6 yrs ago on my wedding date, I will ALWAYS be Mandy to her, she will ALWAYS be Cari or Carebear to our family, everything in those names brings back our childhood and what having a sibling means.

While Cari and I were growing up, we experienced our toughest and happiest times and we have always been there for each others most shining moments, such as today.

The tone of our sisterly love was set early on, about 28 yrs ago this month in fact. Imagine two sisters, joyfully playing with blocks on a summer day. I think I must have decided to 'improve' the structure by taking a block from Cari's pile, BIG mistake. The next thing I knew my forehead was meeting a metal trash can powered by a toddlers wrath. Four stitches and a bag of jelly beans later, we were friends again. It is only appropriate that this is my EARLIEST memory in life and you were there.

Beyond this early negotiation, Cari and I have given each other everything we could over the years, or not, but then we'd just take it out of the others closet when she wasn't looking. We have been each others courage, support, comfort, enemy, playmate, roommate, and have never failed to make each other laugh. You with your sense of humor and me with my never ending lack of balance.

As children we dream of our wedding day and hope to marry the perfect man that is our best friend, the love of our lives, a true partner. I think our family and extended friends can see that Pat has fulfilled all of your hopes for a husband. Pat, welcome to the family and the friends that are as close as family. As dad said to Rich on our wedding weekend, 'This is a cash and carry deal, there are no returns.'

Tonight we celebrate everything you have found in each other and all your dreams for the future, so I would like everyone to raise their glasses in a toast to Pat and Cari.

Congratulations and love to you both.