My toast to my daughter, the bride

I am not someone who struggles with words. For forty years, words have served me well. I’ve turned a handy phrase or two for politicians, union leaders and even, on a few occasions, for my own children.
Need a speech; an op-ed column; an application letter; maybe a well-written excuse for your teacher? I’m your go-to guy.
Strangely enough, though, I have seldom taken—or for that matter been given—the opportunity to speak my own words in my own voice. Not to worry, the habits of a lifetime are not suddenly going to be reversed this evening.
One of the traits I share with my son-in-law is a certain shyness in social situations. Also like Dan—and by the way, I do indeed like Dan—but I should more correctly say “as with Dan”, my reticence to speak should never be equated with being at a loss for words. I can recall few occasions when I have been…
The first of those occasions was on an icy winter morning a quarter of a century ago when I met my daughter. Those of you who have experienced the birth of a child understand the powerlessness of words when you are confronted with the wonder of this amazing new life, this part of you that is not you. It’s a wonder I have had the blessing to experience three times in my life. It’s a wonder that I re-experience each and every day.
Later that January day, after I had walked into my office and loudly proclaimed to my co-workers “I’m a daughter! No, no—I HAVE a daughter,” I went back to the old Grace Maternity Hospital to check on mother. The moment my new daughter heard my voice, she turned her head and looked deeply into my eyes—and more than a few of us in this room have seen that look—and in that one moment conveyed an understanding of mysteries for which most of us spend our lifetimes searching.
Suddenly, the words returned. “We have an old soul here, Linda. She will take care of us.”
As you know Dan, she will take care of you. And as I know, you will take care of her.
I have struggled to find the right words to speak this evening. Of course I want to tell Paige how totally thrilled I am that she has found such a sweet, gentle giant of a man that so compliments her own temperament and personality. I want to tell Dan how honoured Linda and I are to welcome him into our hearts and into our family. But I have to admit, words have again failed me.
So I’ll say no more than to raise my glass to Paige and Dan and paraphrase some great words written by someone else—“Be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And you’ll change the world.”