Forget my entire speech on Saturday night. So here it is. "For some reason this looming speech seriously challenged me. There were tooo many tales I could tell, (that would probably get me into much trouble) so much to say yet none of it really felt right. It wasn’t until tonight when I arrived at the restaurant that it all fell into place so with my IPad in tow I was able to hog the bathroom for a bit and finally get it all out (my speech that is) . Like all girls, I am a fan of Chick Flicks especially Wedding Chick Flicks. Give me 27 Dresses, Wedding Date, Mamma Mia, Father of the Bride, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and The Princess Bride on a rainy day and I’m delirious. So in preparation for my one daughter’s wedding I wanted to re-create all the big screen wedding magic for her and most important for me was the special Mummy Alex time just before she walked down the aisle. However from very early this morning the Bridal Suite has been a bustling haven and as the day evaporated into a continual to do list featuring a cast of what seemed like thousands – my planned magic moment with my daughter just never eventuated. And as I walked to the Beach where the ceremony took place and contemplated the impending nuptials, I realized WHY. Looking back over the past twenty nine years Alex and I have effortlessly created thousands of magic moments together. She has been my partner in crime virtually from birth. I remember the moment that she was born, she emerged and looked directly at me with a determined little face that said “Well I’m here now, let’s get started.” And like Manny’s first meeting with Alex, she freaked the hell out of me. I was so terrified that this little baby had such faith and trust in me. Alex has been a second mother to her brothers, a sister and best friend to me and the most considerate and loving daughter to both Leo and Manny. The beauty, calm and grace with which she has conducted today’s event is something that our entire family has been spoiled with since 1984. My planned magic moment on my daughter’s wedding day didn’t eventuate the way that I had planned. Instead I actually had a better one. Today Jeanette and I walked leisurely together from the Bridal Suite down to the wedding ceremony beach – the two wedding mothers arriving together. That was my magic moment. Sharing the beginning of the ceremony with my new mother partner in crime was perfect. Alex is the eldest of four and Matt is the youngest of six – that’s many years of no sleep right there. In a very out of the box nontraditional and rather unusual manner, we have each raised a strong fiercely close knit family. Together these ten kids have forged a formidable mob. Alex and Matt, it is from this mob of siblings that your own little family will grow. Your brothers and sisters and their partners are the uncles and aunts for your kids. Look around the room. This is the village that together raises your children. How lucky are you? How blessed will our grandchildren be? I wish to pay tribute to Jeanette for producing such a fine son. To the Beehags, Dicksons and Livermores - I’m so grateful to you all for sharing him with my daughter and our whole family. I always used to tease him and tell him that he would make a “Good First Husband.” But the truth is that Matt will make a wonderful husband for life and a great father for our grand babies. Alex and Matt met at the tender age of 16 and without divulging specific details of our first real unique encounter with him suffice to say that Matt not only survived my rather unusual filtering process but his well measured response made it evident that we were meeting a very significant person. He quickly became a part of our family and each time they broke up, the hole in our family became bigger and bigger with us missing Matt more and more each time. Matt, we make more sense as a family with you in it. You make us - US. You have suffered through countless gigs and events with us as a family and catered dinners, BBQs and parties, taught Niko and I how to cook, and participated in most of my hair brained project events with polite character, good nature and generosity. As a family we tend to hang as a pack and you have weathered us ALWAYS being around with exceptional humility. And from today I’m so very proud to officially call you my son. Everyone who is here today is here because of a shared DNA or a shared experience and we all form a part of the foundation that launches you two as your own family. Alex and Matt - you two bring people together. You simply create family as a consequence of your relationship and we ALL look forward to meeting the next generation of our big fat Italian Greek Australian family. xxx"
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 00:57:29 +0000
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