My Speech to Kristin
I promised Donna I'd post the speech I gave to Kristin at her wedding....
I’d like to start out by thanking everyone for being here and sharing this special day with the happy couple.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Kristin’s big sister Allison. I could start out by saying it was so surprised and happy when Kristin asked me to be her maid of honor, but I’d be lying. I’m the big sister, of course I’m going to be the maid of honor. So knowing how impatient I am, she actually made me wait three weeks after the engagement before she would formally ask me. She thought it was so cute and funny. Good thing I have a sense of humor.
But seriously, I am honored to be standing by her side today. No one knows more than me how long she’s been waiting for this day and how perfect her and Dave are for each other. Kristin, I’ve never seen you look more beautiful than you do today…Dave is a very lucky man.
Obviously, I’ve known Kristin for 23 years. I loved her the moment I saw her and at age 4, I treated her like any four year old would treat their baby sister…just like my baby doll. I made her do summersaults on the carpet before she could even walk and I fed her Doritos before she should have been eating solid foods. And I couldn’t wait for her to talk….I was so excited to hear the sound of her voice and what great things she would have to say… and she been making me laugh ever since. I remember one time when Kristin was about 3 years old, we were in the dressing room of some department store with my mom and Kristin burped...she then made a loud announcement that “she farted in her mouth”. You could hear all the other ladies in the dressing room laughing hysterically and so were my mom and I. She was always saying funny things like that.
Growing up with Kristin, I used to get a little annoyed that she always wanted to tag along with my friends and me. We always had to include her when we played house or school or if we played games. And my mom always used to day, “include her Allison, you don’t know how lucky you are to have a sister.” So I did. And to this day, my favorite childhood memories are the ones with her in them. Like how she used to make me play those annoying games where I had to guess what number she was thinking of or what was in her hand.
But my mom was right (and she usually is)…I am so lucky to have a sister. Kristin is the only person I can call and be on the phone with for an hour but only have about 30 minutes of conversation…sometimes it’s nice to just know she’s on the other end of the line. She’s the only person I can run with that can keep the same pace as me although she can still beat me in every race without even trying. She always says the right things even when she doesn’t say anything at all. And we are the only people who understand our jokes…Bob and Dave won’t ever get it.
I read this quote by Toni Morrison when I was preparing this speech, She wrote “A sister is someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves- a special kind of double.” I think that pretty much sums up Kristin and me.
Now even though Kristin is my special kind of double, I know I now have to share her with Dave. But I couldn’t have picked a better person to be my sister’s partner if had had done it myself. (although I like to think I did contribute a little).
Dave - you’re wonderful and I can say that with conviction because you and I have been friends for quite sometime. I know I’ve told you on more than a few occasions how lucky you are to have my sister. But I probably haven’t told you how lucky she is to have you. Well, she is. Since the day you asked her to that Red Wings game her eyes have sparkled. I’m pretty sure she loved you immediately - and when Kristin loves someone she loves them with her whole heart…she doesn’t hold anything back. And I know you don’t take that for granted.
Dave and I are a like in quite a few ways - we are both frugal and both stubborn. But one quality I admire in Dave is his ability to see the error of his ways. On one certain occasion, I may have stuck my nose into your business and told you that you were wrong. You argued with me for a few minutes, but all of the sudden you changed your tone and admitted you were wrong. That night, I remember thinking “Kristin has herself a keeper.” I love you, Dave and I’m glad I can call you my brother.
I just want to leave you with two pieces of advice and then we’ll toast.
First, make sure you furnish that spare bedroom. Because Kristin will want me to spend the night on occasion and you’re going to need a place to sleep.
Second, Kristin and I love the movie “Parenthood”. I think the grama said it best when she said talked about how much she loved going on the rollercoaster with her husband. “it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it. - Kristin and Dave - life is a rollercoaster and now that you’re married just remember you’re on this ride together. No matter how different your reaction is to the ride, you’re experiencing it together.
Toast
So I’d like to give a toast to the happy couple! Life will take you for a ride - may you always find the excitement in it and appreciate every moment of it together.
I’d like to start out by thanking everyone for being here and sharing this special day with the happy couple.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Kristin’s big sister Allison. I could start out by saying it was so surprised and happy when Kristin asked me to be her maid of honor, but I’d be lying. I’m the big sister, of course I’m going to be the maid of honor. So knowing how impatient I am, she actually made me wait three weeks after the engagement before she would formally ask me. She thought it was so cute and funny. Good thing I have a sense of humor.
But seriously, I am honored to be standing by her side today. No one knows more than me how long she’s been waiting for this day and how perfect her and Dave are for each other. Kristin, I’ve never seen you look more beautiful than you do today…Dave is a very lucky man.
Obviously, I’ve known Kristin for 23 years. I loved her the moment I saw her and at age 4, I treated her like any four year old would treat their baby sister…just like my baby doll. I made her do summersaults on the carpet before she could even walk and I fed her Doritos before she should have been eating solid foods. And I couldn’t wait for her to talk….I was so excited to hear the sound of her voice and what great things she would have to say… and she been making me laugh ever since. I remember one time when Kristin was about 3 years old, we were in the dressing room of some department store with my mom and Kristin burped...she then made a loud announcement that “she farted in her mouth”. You could hear all the other ladies in the dressing room laughing hysterically and so were my mom and I. She was always saying funny things like that.
Growing up with Kristin, I used to get a little annoyed that she always wanted to tag along with my friends and me. We always had to include her when we played house or school or if we played games. And my mom always used to day, “include her Allison, you don’t know how lucky you are to have a sister.” So I did. And to this day, my favorite childhood memories are the ones with her in them. Like how she used to make me play those annoying games where I had to guess what number she was thinking of or what was in her hand.
But my mom was right (and she usually is)…I am so lucky to have a sister. Kristin is the only person I can call and be on the phone with for an hour but only have about 30 minutes of conversation…sometimes it’s nice to just know she’s on the other end of the line. She’s the only person I can run with that can keep the same pace as me although she can still beat me in every race without even trying. She always says the right things even when she doesn’t say anything at all. And we are the only people who understand our jokes…Bob and Dave won’t ever get it.
I read this quote by Toni Morrison when I was preparing this speech, She wrote “A sister is someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves- a special kind of double.” I think that pretty much sums up Kristin and me.
Now even though Kristin is my special kind of double, I know I now have to share her with Dave. But I couldn’t have picked a better person to be my sister’s partner if had had done it myself. (although I like to think I did contribute a little).
Dave - you’re wonderful and I can say that with conviction because you and I have been friends for quite sometime. I know I’ve told you on more than a few occasions how lucky you are to have my sister. But I probably haven’t told you how lucky she is to have you. Well, she is. Since the day you asked her to that Red Wings game her eyes have sparkled. I’m pretty sure she loved you immediately - and when Kristin loves someone she loves them with her whole heart…she doesn’t hold anything back. And I know you don’t take that for granted.
Dave and I are a like in quite a few ways - we are both frugal and both stubborn. But one quality I admire in Dave is his ability to see the error of his ways. On one certain occasion, I may have stuck my nose into your business and told you that you were wrong. You argued with me for a few minutes, but all of the sudden you changed your tone and admitted you were wrong. That night, I remember thinking “Kristin has herself a keeper.” I love you, Dave and I’m glad I can call you my brother.
I just want to leave you with two pieces of advice and then we’ll toast.
First, make sure you furnish that spare bedroom. Because Kristin will want me to spend the night on occasion and you’re going to need a place to sleep.
Second, Kristin and I love the movie “Parenthood”. I think the grama said it best when she said talked about how much she loved going on the rollercoaster with her husband. “it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it. - Kristin and Dave - life is a rollercoaster and now that you’re married just remember you’re on this ride together. No matter how different your reaction is to the ride, you’re experiencing it together.
Toast
So I’d like to give a toast to the happy couple! Life will take you for a ride - may you always find the excitement in it and appreciate every moment of it together.