Being the Best

In this case, being the Best Man.. My roommate asked me this afternoon to be the Best Man at his wedding. I've been secretly hoping he would ask, but knew that he could just as easily ask a number of other close males in his life. But, as the title makes clear, I was the best.

Of course, now I have a challenge. On my list of the Things I want to be Remembered For is giving good toasts. Back in my boy scout days I used to be the Troop's Chaplin's Aide, which meant I gave a lot of non-denominational prayers at Court of Honors and group meals. For some reason the parents in the troop thought I was really good at these prayers... even though they were entirely spontaneous. To make things even more confusing, I served as the aide during a time of great personal spiritual angst. Not that said period has past, but it sure was weird giving praise and asking for blessing to a God whose existence I question on a daily basis... and yet those around me, those who kept on asking me to pray on their behalf, believed so fully. But I digress...

The one thing I took away from the experience is that I might, just maybe, be good at giving speeches. I've given a number of political speeches over the years, mostly to student government types. Most people seem to think I've done pretty good. But this time, as the Best Man, I can't fall back on the rhetoric of the body politic. This time I've got to say something meaningful, true, and honest about people I really care about.

I take it as a great honor, and a great challenge...

Anyone got a thesaurus I can borrow?