The Blogtastic Blogfest That Is Getmeoutofthis.net!

My brother’s getting married today, and that is top of cool. I could write about that, but the fact is, I already have written about it, in the speech I’m going to give. I think I’ll just share that here for posterity, as it really does show how I feel.

When I think back, really dig into my memories and try to pull up the earliest ones I can find, I think of two things. The first is getting a set of aviator wings on a flight to Disney World, which, I’m sure we all can agree, is totally badass. The second, however, may be more important. I remember the living room, at our old house on Woodbine. There’s a blanket on the floor near the fireplace, and on that blanket is a baby of some sort. I’m sitting there, next to this blanket. I look to this baby-like thing and I think, “That’s my brother.” I was young, of course, and my brain was not operating at full capacity yet, surely. Still, against all odds, it turns out that thought was right. That was my brother. That’s an amazing thing.

From there, Jonathan, you’re all throughout my memories and my life, as I’m sure you know. I remember tip-toeing with you over all sorts of junk in the toy room at our old house, looking for this or that. I remember days spent bouncing on the trampoline, or playing in the pool. I remember so many times we “played as people,” as if indicating we weren’t people yet. We were, though. We were awesome people.

So much of the awesome person I am, and the awesome things I love were shaped by you, Jonathan. I may play a video game or two, or three, or three thousand during my free time. But if I had to pick games to top my all time favorites, they’d be games I played with you. Smash Brothers. Kirby Super Star. Hell, think of how many times we replayed the first two hours of Secret of Mana together. Rented it time and again, grinding out the exact same events, but we did it together, and that made it fantastic fun. Even when we played WoW together, we got those silly radios so that even though we were playing in different rooms of the house, we could still play together. All that stuff is part of who I am because it’s something we shared. I loved every moment of it.

Even these memories, though great examples, are so small in comparison to everything I’ve gained for having a brother like you. You’ve always been there for me, and I’ve tried to always be there for you. So when a certain woman entered your life, I didn’t know how to react. My only dating experience had been with people over the internet who lived an 8 hour drive away, but here you were, meeting someone, in person, and dating them. My mind was boggled. Could this work out? Only the best would do for my brother, after all. I watched and wondered and worried.

The turning point came, like so many things, from the geekiest of pursuits: Dungeons and Dragons. I had the joy of playing with Shauna in not one but two campaign attempts, in which she totally nailed it. She was role-playing the pants off of us, putting real passion behind her character, even while transforming into a deadly attack cat with her druid skills. It was awesome. She was awesome. It was then I made myself stop being a stupid worrier, and actually look at the situation. I let myself see how happy she was making him. “You know,” I told myself then, “I think this could work.” And much like my spot-on prediction about the status of the baby on the blanket, I feel like my prophecy has come true. It’s hard to imagine a family get-together not involving her slaughtering me at trivia, or just sitting at the dinner table with us. Even before it became official today, she was already part of our family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I can’t believe I’m standing here in front of you all today. I can’t believe that my brother, excellent guy that he is, is now married to a completely excellent woman like Shauna. This is an event so excellent that I’m forced to continue to use the adjective excellent. Nothing else describes this moment, and I am completely honored that I get to be up here and celebrate it with the two of you. I hope your life together continues to require such adjectives. I’m reminded of the words of two of the greatest philosophers of our time, Bill S. Preston, Esquire, and Ted “Theodore” Logan. I’ll leave you with them today. Jonathan, Shauna, “Be Excellent To Each Other, and Party On.”

Seriously, congratulations, you two.