It says everything.

My brother got married over the weekend.  I could use today’s blog to talk at length about how honored I was to perform the ceremony; or about how unforgettable the reception was, from the delicious food to the red hot live band that turned the wedding into a concert.  Instead of going on and on about all that, I’ll simply share my Best Man speech.  I think it perfectly sums up my feelings for my brother this weekend, and my hopes for his life going forward with his beautiful wife.

 

If there’s one thing I know about my brother John, it’s that he hates mushy displays of emotion in public, at least from me and my family.  And while there will be plenty of that tomorrow on his wedding day, I’ll spare him the aggravation of having to put up with it from me tonight.

So I won’t be saying that I’m proud of you and all you’ve accomplished, John… because if I did, it would make Mom cry.

I won’t tell you that you’ve always impressed me; from your accomplishments in school and in sports, your business and personal success, and your dedication to overcoming the obstacles life has put in your way… because if I did, it might make Dad cry.

I won’t tell you that I’m often so in awe of the man you’ve become that I sometimes, half-jokingly, refer to myself as “the first draft” sibling… because if I did, I may start to cry.

So I won’t put you, Nicole, or everyone else here through those mushy displays of emotion in a public place. But I will give you some insight I’ve gathered from my own marriage:

A marriage is not measured in the milestones.  Not the picturesque moments, exotic destinations, or unforgettable events.  A life together is measured in the distance between the milestones.  The journey from memory to memory.  The in-between where plans are made or nothing happens at all.  The happiness you find in the time when you’re not seeking it is the measure of a marriage.

And John, if you are as successful at being a husband as you have been at everything else I’ve seen you do, I have no doubt that your life together with Nicole will be immeasurable.