Toast

Parker and I always maintained in college that we were "the same," even in areas where we were very different. But one way in which we were identical was in our obsession with Anne of Green Gables--we always fought over which one of us was Anne in our group of friends.

But Parker has a Gilbert, and that's Andretti (Gilbert is Anne's childhood friend who she marries in the end). First, Anne goes off to explore the wide world (think, Spain and Norway), before settling in her hometown with her people.

So today, at least, Parker, I cede "Anne" status to you. Your Gilbert is an accountant who races cars instead of horses, but this is only a modern re-telling of the best story ever.

Nothing is more beautiful than friendship turned into love, especially when this surprise happens at home, in the city in which you were raised. And now we are, appropriately, celebrating your marriage at your parents' home.

As country singer Josh Turner says [Myrrh made me cut out the effusive adjectives here describing him and his voice after laughing at them so hard that she couldn't stop], and he could have been talking about you two here: "The longer the waiting, the sweeter the kiss."

And now, please join with me as we raise a toast to Parker and Andretti at the beginning of their marriage, wishing them many adventures and many children! [I take great delight in the conclusion as I'm privy to the number of children they want to have and want to tease it higher!]