A Speech from The Father to the Bride

Ladies & Gentlemen

I am only going to speak for a couple of minutes today because of my throat - apparently, if I go on for too long, Rhandi is going to cut it for me! 

So what can I tell you about Rhandi and still walk out of here on two legs? Well it doesn't seem like five minutes ago that Rhandi was born. Being a modern Dad of course - I was there at the birth. Yes, I remember that day very well ….

We had a very shortsighted nurse. Soon after the birth she picked Rhandi up and held her "Oooh" she said "you look just like your Dad! …..Unfortunately, I had to very quickly point out to the nurse that she was in fact holding Rhandi upside down.

And then along came Carlos. Now what can I say about Carlos???

Well I can tell you that he has been completely welcomed into the family……especially by the guys.

You see, Carlos is the only one who will go into the freezing lake in the spring to put in our water lines….and  in the fall to take them out again…..

He also has an amazing ability to back up a trailer.

Now  what more can you ask for from a son in law??? So on behalf of all the guys…. Carlos welcome to the family.

For those of you who don’t know Carlos too well… let me tell you all that he is a true gentleman.

A while back he actually came to me and asked for Rhandi’s hand.

I said that was O.K. by me just as long as he took the one that spent most of its time in my wallet!

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So what is married life like? What can they expect from it?

If we listen to the macho men, they would tell us that marriage begins with the engagement ring, then there is the wedding ring and finally it ends up with all the suffer-ring!

And if we listen to the women's libbers…

They would tell us  it begins when you sink into his arms….

And it ends up with your arms in his sink….

But I'm sure that won't prove true in this case as Carlos certainly is a modern man and he will probably do  his share of the cooking and washing up.

And Rhandi is also a modern woman… and Carlos we know how you like your food….. so like a modern wife Rhandi will learn what all your favorite dishes are….. and the restaurants that serve them.

You'll find that when you come home late at night, she'll be there waiting for you…. And she'll ask you where you've been…. Then tell you EXACTLY where to go.

Carlos, there are many advantages of being married. You'll come to know that you can't make a fool of your self without hearing about it.

You'll find that you become the kind of  person who becomes very responsible….. No matter what happens…. You're responsible.

And, Carlos….. don't ever make the mistake of trying to find out who the boss is  in the house…. Believe me, you'll be much happier not knowing.

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And now I’d like to get a little more serious and talk about the Rhandi I know and love.

A while ago a group of us were talking about what a shame it was that we didn’t have those fancy video recorders when the kids were growing up.

But the other night as I was going thru some old family photos I realized that in fact I have my own personal video recorder…. And it’s right in here. (hand on heart)

You see… when I look at Rhandi today… I still see the tiny little Eskimo baby lying in the carriage in our apartment… while I read to her.

When I looked at Rhandi taking those first steps down the aisle today,… I was reminded of another set of first steps… the very first steps she ever took… at the Grywacheski’s apartment at 11 months old… and I can see it as if were yesterday.

And her first tears at 5 weeks … and her first smile at 5 ½ weeks old.

When I look at Rhandi today… dressed in her beautiful wedding gown… her costume for the wedding ceremony….

I also see the little girl in other costumes… Witches and clowns for Halloween…. Ukranian dance costumes…tap dance costumes, and jazz and ballet costumes…

And fond memories of concerts at the Playhouse Theatre and the Centenial Concert Hall.

When I looked at Rhandi today in the limo for the trip to the church…

What I saw was the little girl… and other trips we  took …

the trips to the zoo, the trips to the library… she loved books then, and she still does… and the trips to the museum and Art gallery… where she so loved the Eskimo carvings.

When I look at Rhandi today… the young woman…

SO SOPHISTICATED… collecting quotes on mortgage rates and mutual funds…

What I see is the little girl who collected Cabbage Patch and Scratch and Sniffs.

When I looked at the hall tonight… decorated in so fine a manner..

I was reminded of all the other decorations…. Christmas times and Haloween…. Easters with the colored eggs…and hunting for all the chocolates hidden the night before.

When I look at Rhandi today … how proud I am of the young lady who Graduated from the University of Winnipeg… while volunteering at the Women’s Health Clinic and the Elizabeth Fry Society… 

 But I am equally proud of the little girl who in Kindergarten…

. puts forth best effort 

. works well in a group

Who in grade 2 wanted to be a nurse… and in grade 5 a comedian.

For those of you who are in the pool as to when I’ll first start sobbing…. You might want a heads up here… I would like to recite a poem … one that I haven’t yet gone thru without shedding a tear. It’s a song really , but I’ll spare you the agony of listening to my singing and I’ll just read it as a poem. It sums up feelings that my wife and I share…. 

Life goes short & man grows old
Summer's gone & the wind turns cold

Where are you going, my little one, little one?
Where are you going, my daughter, my own?

Turn around & you're 2, turn around & you're 4
Turn around, you're a young woman going out of the door

Where are you going, my little one, little one?
Pigtails & petticoats, where have you gone?

Turn around & you're tiny, turn around & you're grown
Turn around, you're a young wife with babes of your own

Where have they gone, our little ones, little ones?
Where have they gone, our children, our own?

Turn around & they're young, turn around & they're old
Turn around & they've gone, & we've no one to hold.

Ladies and gentlemen….please rise and raise your glasses….

TO THE BRIDE!!!!!

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