Posting a Toast

A TOAST

My son Ben and Allison were married 10-27-2012 in Miami. This post is of the toast I hoped to offer them as they start their journey together. It includes a tribute to my wife and daughter and others as well. Naturally, I delivered a flawed version at the event. It was a beautiful ceremony.

I want to offer a big Thank You to the wedding officiate Skye Palmer... 

First, To ALL of those who are no longer with us today…

We know you are with us in spirit. To name just a few: (Lynn’s Dad) Dr. Sam Stevens, (my Mom) Mary Francis Lawton Morgan, my Uncle Andrew Morgan, my dear cousin Vince Morgan…To family and friends (near and far);

My Dad (60-minute Morgan) who is 94 years young

and here from in Tampa. (I love ya Dad.)

Cousins, collegues, college pals and teammates,

Digger and David, Randazzle and the other David,

Perry, Max, Erica…

Morgan families: Sundance, Lynn, Greg, Dan, Rob/Joy…

Thanks for being a part of our lives.

We love all of you …for who you are.

Toby – you are a remarkable.

You are the chairman of the board and our greatest patron.

We cannot thank you enough for all you have done

and all that you continue to do.

Lindsey –You are the first in our next Generation

The world is a better place with you in it.

You have always been a loving and giving person

(and an awesome sister).

You are such an important part of our family

You are a General on land, a parrot head, a runner,

a role model and an inspiration. ..

You’ve moved and adapted

and become an outstanding adult.

We are so proud of you.

If I can borrow a line from Voltaire’s Candide:

“Things happen exactly as they should,

 in this… the best of all possible worlds.”

Lynn – you are a rock.

You are the glue that holds us together.

You are the President and CEO of our family

“When Lynnie is happy, I’m happy…”

Bing, you are the best wife I ever had!

“Baby you are the greatest…”

And you are a great mom too.

(at every open house and parent teacher conference)

It has always been clear;

Those cookies you bake come with a veiled threat.

“We can do this the easy way  or we can do this the hard way…”

God Bless the teachers and coaches who went toe-to-toe with Mrs. Mo.

Bing, we were married on a rainy day in Miami 32 years ago.

(I know what you are thinking, if not saying out loud…”the longest 32 years of my life”…ha ha)

We’ve seen plenty of sunny days since. (A lot of them!)

We’ve been to New York, LA, Raleigh, Miami and the UK;

We’ve been to the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.

(Are you sure you don’t want to do to Machu Picchu w/ me?)

Ben –You are “The silent leader”… You quietly earn respect.

From Seagull, to Sunniland, to the big Apple (NYC);

You demonstrate a maturity beyond your years.

You are the guy they trusted to protect the goal  (the Enforcer)

The value you bring cannot be shown on a spreadsheet.

You have intangible assets…loads of them…

the kind you want in a teammate, a friend and a partner…

 Allison you are a champion.

You once told me Ben was amazing… At Ben’s Graduation, Remember?

(I remember thinking “well, duh!” roll the...Kanye West soundtrack…ha)

But now we can see that you are pretty amazing yourself. 

You entered our lives with such style and grace.

We are so grateful to Jean and Tom and your extended family for nurturing you and putting you on the path…

that lead you to us.

We love you.

Ben and Allison - Life is too short.
The painting in your New York City apartment says it all:

“Life does not have to be perfect, to be wonderful.”

This is a beginning and a celebration.

We trust your journey together will be most rewarding.

To paraphrase Rudyard Kipling:

Dream---and not make dreams your master;
Think---and not make thoughts your aim,
Meet with Triumph and Disaster;
Treat those two impostors just the same.

In the words from a Sinatra song:

Blue Skies - smiling at me;

Nothing but Blue Skies - do I see.
Blue Birds singing a song;
Nothing but Blue Birds all day long.
Never saw the sun shining so bright.
Never saw things looking so right.
Noticing the days hurrying by;
When you’re in love, my how they fly
Blue Days, all of them gone;
Nothing but Blue Skies from now on.

God Bless You!

We love you!

Blue Days, all of them gone;

Nothing but Blue Skies from now on.

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warmly upon your face.
May the rain fall gently on your fields.
May the good Lord bless and keep you
in the hollow of his hand.