The Sweetest Cake

Last weekend we decided we hadn't spent enough money and we'd been home way too long and hadn't seen California in at least two weeks, so we flew back for 36 hours to celebrate our friends Jenn and Steve's wedding. I am SO GLAD we did--not only becuase we love the Jenn and the Steve, but because I got to see some of our friends again whom we've been DEARLY missing. One thing a wedding across country does for you: It makes you realize how much you LOVE everybody, and how DUMB you feel living 3000 miles away.

Another reason was that I witnessed not only the most original and touching vows I'd ever heard (and that's HARD, people), but also probably my favorite toast EVER. As part of his vows, Steve surprised Jenn and everyone be playing a collection of voicemails Jenn had left him over the last four years. They ranged from hilarious singing of "I just called to say I love you" to an apology for her "behavior" the night before. It was hilarious and touching and moving--especially when he said that the first one was from 4 years ago, and the last one was from two weeks ago.

Usually, I am not very fond of toasts, unless they are given by particulary gifted people. Actually, when I say "gifted" I mean, "aware of everybody's TIME." Do not trust the one who says, "I am going to keep this short." Especially when they follow that sentence with, "I remember when she was born..." It's going to be a LONG night, folks when those words are uttered. We're talking LIFETIME. No wedding has escaped these toasts, and Jenn & Steve's was no acception. However, Steve's sister somehow made it all worth it. She got up and told the story of how she had been adopted at age 3, and Steve at 5 or 6 had welcomed her into the family with a cake he made that said WELCOME JESSICA written on it. She brought the photograph of thsi moment to show everyone. Everybody collectively AWWWWed at this point. Then, Steve's sister said, "So Jenn, I know you have a wedding cake, but I made you a cake." And she presented Jenn with a small cake that said WELCOME JENN on it. I don't think there was a DRY EYE in the house! There isn't a dry eye here as write this to you thinking about it.

There are many reasons to not have weddings, but the cake reminded me so much of why we do it. It's a party for our history to meet our future, and why not celebrate that and have little cake?