A W
E
D
D
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N
G T
O
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S
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Daniel
&
Charlotte
For my nephew and his bride, with love from your uncle
Good evening, everyone. For those of you who don’t know me — I’m Samuel, the proud uncle of that
rather dashing young man over there. Tonight, I have the honor of raising a glass to him, and to the
woman who makes him light up like a child on Christmas morning.
I have known Daniel his whole life. I taught him to ride a bike, sat through more school plays than any
uncle should ever have to, and once spent an entire afternoon searching for his pet hamster — which
was hiding, the whole time, in his own jacket pocket. So believe me when I say I have earned the right to a
story or two. Tonight, I’ll be generous, and keep only one.
When Daniel was eight years old, he came home from school one day and announced, very seriously, that
he had decided who he was going to marry. She was the girl who had lent him a pencil during a math test.
That was it — that was the entire criteria. It seems my nephew has always been a man of deep and decisive
commitment.
Years passed, and the criteria grew up with him. And then, three years ago, he brought Charlotte to
Sunday dinner for the first time. I watched them from across the table. He kept glancing at her as if he
couldn’t quite believe she was real. And Charlotte — she laughed at his jokes, even the bad ones, and
insisted on helping with the dishes. That was the moment I knew.
Some people search the whole world over to find their person. My nephew found his in the produce aisle
of the Georgetown market, standing next to the avocados. And somehow — somehow, that makes it even
better.
Charlotte, welcome to our family. In no time at all, you have won us over completely. You are kind, you
are warm, and you love him exactly the way he deserves to be loved. For that, we will be grateful to you
always.
Daniel — I have watched you become the best version of yourself, and it is a joy to witness. Keep making
her laugh. Be the man who remembers the avocados. And never, for one single day, forget how lucky you
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