I'm looking to put together a speech for my little sister that is
getting married on July 29th, 2006 in upstate NY- 7 days from
today...in doing so I have put down some thoughts and memories I've
had over the years with my sister (Gretchen Tucker)...hoping that
someone could put it all together into a nice speech for me:

ROASTS

Nicknames: 
- G Bird, the Baby, Gretch & it would probably be "Miss Piggy" if it
were up to the gods that reside over the 20 Titus lane household...

Least favorite experience at a young, impressionable age: 
- "Baby John's" hanging in the Winnebego, while driving cross country
with the Kellners...a great story!

Least favorite experience at 20 Titus lane: 
- Tennis in the backyard > getting her ass beat by her brother (me) >
and she ends up in tears (at age 15)

Favorite Movie: 
- Pete's Dragon...I mean what an awful movie. I googled it & the first
website it took me to was the "Earth's Biggest Movie Database"  it's
amazing how right on it is..."Unless your idea of fun is Helen Reddy
singing absolute crap (and I say this as someone who admits enjoying a
few of her pop cuts), or the history of pasting cartoon dragons onto
film, there's nothing here. It's so bad, and so stupid, and so awful,
and the songs are so unbearably inane"...

Most grueling job: 
- Hmmmm, I don't remeber G having one of these...maybe didn't have one
because by the time she was old enough our parents had the house
cleaning service, had lawn service, and increased G's allowance-- for
what, we don't know-- but in combination of Mom it was enough to...G,
not to put to put you on the spot or anything, but I was hoping that
you could share with us a grueling job. G? If you can't think of one ,
maybe we could ask T what her grueling job was. T?

Greatest skill among the Tucker family & one that all Tucker's have mastered:
- Out of all of us, she's the fastest eater at the dinner table- and
I'm fast & my dad's faster but G- she is undeniably the fastest!

THOUGHTS

Most relaxing moments growing up:
- Getting back rubs from Grandma and Aunt Wez

Favorite thing to do while at 20 Titus lane: 
- Laying down on the couch, watching TV, drinking a Coke, with Bailey at your side

Best Bud of all time: 
- Bailey Dog of course

Favorite drink: 
- Coke - it was truly amazing how many Cokes she would drink in one
day- I would say she probably had (5) a day & this went on for a few
years

Favorite Dessert: 
- it's a tie between Good Humor Toasted Almonds & Carvel ice cream -
funny story- Our Dad would often hide the Toasted Almonds in the
"other refrigerator" (not the fridge in the kitchen) with the hopes
that no one else would eat them...

Best friends growing up: 
- Jenny Barrese

Biggest crush: 
- Scott Rice

Her favorite expression:
- a tie between "Oh my god!" & "really?"

Greatest quality:
- Her sensitivity towards others - obviously not a quality I much
appreciated growing up with G, more one that I took advantage of...but
as the years have passed this is a quality that I have grown to
appreciate. And, G is now a woman that has a good head on her
shoulders, that has great friends, and is truly a great person that is
not only sensitive herself but sensitive towards how other people
feel.

First real boyfriend: 
- And this brings me to Tyler...Other then Chris Coleman, I couldn't
imagine a better brother-in-law...SERIOUSLY! Despite the way he
dresses (all in pastels) OR the way he'll read the NY Times cover to
cover right next to me OR the fact that- ON A GOOD-- he is a very good
loser...what I mean by that is that he seems to have a lot of trouble
beating our family at anything, even his fiancee...even Chris Coleman
who at the beginning of the round was being instructed by Tyler to
"watch his swing" as I had never seen him play golf beat Tyler that
day...BUT SERIOUSLY he is lot of fun, he is a very smart man, a very
caring man & one that is obviously poised for greatness in his life.
Tyler, I know that you will take very good care of my sister as you
two grow old together. We have all been ready for this day for a very
long time and I can speak for the family when I say "we are so blessed
to have you a part of our family"

So....please raise your glasses and lets cheers to my sister and
brother-in-law and the greatness that they will be a part of in this
life."

I wish you both the best!

HI Tuckerbear,
When I finished reading your question, my first thought was that you
should simply use it for your toast.  Yes, really!
It is charming, humorous, touching, direct, and straight from you  -
in your own words, better than someone else's, and will sound like
YOU.
Sure, as a text, it is a bit abbreviated:  "best...", "favorite ..."
but wrapping those bits up in sentences will sound stilted and
longwinded (trying to make sentences that don't sound repetitive).
And the important part of the toast - about Tyler -  you have already
completed as well as it could be.

Oh, there are couple of words you could change, "who" instead of
"that" when speaking of a person, but if people are accustomed to
hearing you use "that" - or upstate New Yorkers all do - don't worry
about it.

You will know if it is appropriate to mention even in humor "Other
than Chris Coleman ..."  I expect that the party will understand. As a
bystander, I would suggest not to qualify/lessen your consideration of
Tyler as the best brother-in-law you can imagine.

Don't try to polish it. It will lose its directness.

Have a grand time and best wishes to Gretchen and Tyler

Myoarin

Oh, if no one comes up with better suggestions, and you aren't so sure
about my above idea, you could start by saying that you have asked for
help, reading your first paragraph, and complain that you got none,
and then say:  "So here it comes in my own words."

Whatever you do, print the text out in large case (14 pt), 1 1/2
spaced.  That will make it a lot easier to read and keep your place
when you look up.  And if the lighting is poor, that is a great help
too.

Again, Good Luck!