to leah and evan.

the following is the maid of honor speech i made for my best friend this weekend. though i couldn't hold on to my papers because my hands were shaking so hard and i had to follow the best man comedy show, i'd still call it a success. it was such an honor to write this and to be the maid of honor for my best friend.

when i was younger, my brother used to talk me into doing all sorts of things i didn't want to do. so twenty something years ago when he nagged me to come to his friend micah's house because he promised i would really like micah's sister, i figured she was probably awful. i finally gave in just to shut him up. i don't often admit this, but i was wrong...she was great. it was the best gift my brother has ever given me.

leah and i were instantly inseparable. not only did i find a beset friend for life that day, i gained a pretty big extended family, a few extra holidays like hannukah and passover, the other half to our dance duet, a forever ice cream date, and partner in crime. i found the thelma to my louise.

as little girls, leah and i loved to play house. we would always pretend that we were married to twins. that way we could basically marry the same person and be related. while leah clearly didn't uphold that pact, i learned a long time ago it doesn't take blood to make you family.

in thinking of how i could describe what kind of friend leah is, this one story came to mind. you know when your parents say they will get you a pet, only if you take care of it but you don't, so they have to? well i had a rabbit like that and one day i came home to find it had died. i called leah and between my sobs she figured out that noah was dead and my parents were going to kill me. she immediately started running to my house. if you know leah, that is a pretty big deal..the running part. she also helped me figure out hat the rabbit wasn't dead after all. she saved my butt that day. 


she had run to my side and she was there for me. now we don't really live within running distance anymore but she continues to be there for me when i need her most. she's shared her family with me and has been my constant as friends and boyfriends have come and gone for us both. so it's been my honor to be her maid of honor. this day is something we dreamed up for a long time and i couldn't imagine a better prince charming for princess leah.

i remember when leah first started dating evan. she was visiting me in florida and though she was downplaying it, i could tell she was already smitten. calls and texts were going in and out at a rapid pace and her face would flush red when she spoke about him, and as much fun as i am to be around, i could tell by the end of the weekend she was ready to get back to him.

they've been together ever since and i can tell how happy he makes her. if ever there were a more detail-oriented person than leah, evan would be it. i know together they will make lists...and check them twice. but most of all they will always dream together, plan together, laugh together and grow together.

though i'm a few months older, leah's always been doing things first...first kiss, first boyfriend, first real job. what i'm trying to say is that i don't have any marriage advice because leah is blazing the trail once again! however, i do have a few things i wish for you both.

may you always kiss each other good night.
may your journey always be better than the destination.
may you continue to laugh together everyday.
may you always find home in each other.
always remember how in love you are today but may this be the day that you love each other the least.

i learned somewhere you should start with a joke and end with a quote. so'id like to end this with some dave matthews.

see, you and me
have a better time than most can dream
have it better than the best
and so can pull on through
whatever tears at us
whatever holds us down
and if nothing can be done
we'll make the best of what's around
turns out not where but who you're with that really matters

may you always make the best of what's around together.

to leah and evan!