The Willow

The willow is simply a magnificent tree,
hang on, I don?t want to make this too elegant, too terse,
but then again, I don?t think I can resist the opportunity,
so can you stand just a little more of Jesson verse?

Now, I?m sure I?ll come back to the willow later,
and what I say then, might touch your heart,
but before we get to that, I?ve some thoughts,
now, where on Earth can I possibly start?

I guess I?ll start at the very beginning,
because Mum, you?ve always been there for me,
and I just wanted to say thank you, I love you very much,
you?ve made my world a better place to be.

Now, of course, I must mention my two brothers,
don?t worry, I haven?t forgotten you Jill, I mean wife,
but Ian and Paul, traditionally, you?ve been the best men today,
and just for the record, you?ve been the best men in my life.

Now, I?ve always known Jill to be a remarkable woman,
but she?s put this wedding together, without a pause,
so, ladies and gentlemen, I?m sure you?ll agree with me,
she deserves a massive, heartfelt round of applause.

But I also know she?s had a team of miracle workers,
and in truth, there?s just too many to individually list,
just know that there?s not one thought, gesture or action,
well, just know that there?s not one that?s been missed.

And I know that today wouldn?t have happened without you,
and I think those are words that everybody understands,
so, miracle workers, I?d like to applaud you,
once again, please put together those grateful hands.
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This is a speech contribution from a friend, Amy who owns a poem website called www.Poemstogo.tv

What can I say about Melissa? She’s my dearest friend in the world.
We’ve been best friends for 15 years and I love her like a sister?
like a best friend.

I’ll never forget the way we met. It was during our first year at college?at the University of West Florida, in Pensacola. We were
rushing the same sorority. Actually, I didn’t meet Melissa first. I met a friend of hers, Missy. Missy was talking a blue streak?and
bragging about a friend of hers named Melissa. I sat there listening to Missy?thinking ?Wow, this girl must really be great.!?

Well, later that night Melissa came into our room and wham-o! I could tell right away what Missy was talking about. I’m not kidding when I say that Melissa exuded a certain kind of glow. She really had something special about her?a presence or something. Whatever it was, it could light up a room ? and it made you want to be near her. Later that night all three of us, Melissa, Missy and I, went out?and we have been inseparable ever since.

Melissa and I made it into that sorority and we lived close to each other in the sorority dorms. A short while after that, we moved into an apartment together. Later on, Melissa decided to transfer to Florida State in Tallahassee. I couldn’t bear to be without her so I transferred, too. Well, we both hated FSU so guess what? We transferred BACK to Pensacola.

The most important thing was to be together. But finally we HAD to split up. Melissa went on to Orlando and received her Master’s in Physical Therapy. I found myself in Birmingham where I earned a doctorate in pharmacy. We maintained a long distance relationship until three years ago when, to my joy, Melissa moved to Birmingham, too!
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How I started off…

“Thank you speech:

Thank you very much to our relatives, friends and colleagues for sharing with me this joyous occasion. One of the principles that I hold on strongly to is: when I drink the water from the well, I must remember the source of the water.

If without the different guidance and support given by everyone of you here, I won?t be who I am today.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my mother especially, my relatives, friends and colleagues for helping me in any way in my journey from childhood till now.”

“To mommy:
Thank you very much for raising me up single-handedly. Father has built my foundation and mother has carry on where he left off. I know it is very tough for you to manage the house alone, plus to raise me up into a healthy adult and to educate me and see me through university days. And thank you for helping me in preparing this wedding too.

To relatives:
Despite I am the only child, I have sisters who adore me.
Despite the absence of my father, I have uncles who treated me like their sons.
Of course, not forgetting the aunties who protect me and take good care of me.

To friends:
Thank you for being there for me when I need you. Thank you for being so supportive. Thank you for providing a shoulder to cry on, to confide in, to learn from.
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It was as if everything had happened yesterday. The emotions and anxiety and excitement overwhelmed me as I was typing this post. My fingers are trembling as I typed the keyboard.

Once a lifetime event happened and passed within a glimpse of an eye. The solemnisation was followed by the screening of the first video montage.

Then, we were ushered up to our bridal suite to get changed into evening attires.

This was a short moment for us to catch our breathes. Likewise for our helpers, they helped both groom and bride to get everything ready.

Finally, it was 9.20 pm. We were given half-an-hour to get ourselves ready.