My Wedding Speech

Beep, Beep, Bittie Beep

Telegrams arrived:
“Hope both of you, Karin and Henrik, have an incredibly wonderful day with much laughter and many wonderful memories. We think of you lots this special day.
Lots of hugs from Wilma, Eva, Thomas and our little Bosse”

Dear newlyweds …beloved sister…
I would first like to congratulate you both on your continued JOURNEY through life. I'm sure it will go really well considering the love that you both have for each other and always have done so openly .

Many journies has it been for both of you guys…both with and without children. Some of these I remember especially because they have influenced me in one way or another in my own personal life.

The first was your journey to Norway to study. For the first time in my life I was without my “my big sister” which has always been there when I needed you. One actually tougher time for me personally than I ever have admitted….pause…but…this journey gave you so much Karin, and, it was the start of your “adult life” far from home.
It was good for you…on the journey
You got an awesome education, two wonderful children, and finally you met you Henrik.
…So i am not bitter for the journey…nä jag är inte bitter

Other big journeys that influenced me a lot as “little brother” was my own journey in 5 year to the U.S.A.. for studies and tennis player.
Far, far away from loved ones…and very long away from you…again…pause.

One of my goals that I set for myself in the U.S., I obviously failed, was to to to be as fantastic in my school work that you have always been. I failed…pause…I could not get straigt A `s how much I buttered my teachers when academic technology did not work as it should. I came close to…but never to your level.
But I'm not bitter because of this…no, jag är inte bitter

The third major journey for those that affected me was when you and Henrik decided you to move to Sweden.
I remember all the things you brought to Sweden, boxes, the snow blizzard…without bulbs in the house.
on the way out to you I get a call “Anders, it's pitch black here, you have to buy light bulbs, we can not see anything, visibility zero” These were purchased at Värmdö Centre on the way out that night. CW and Hanna playing hide and seek among moving boxes in your new fantastic home.
Remember very well that it felt good inside…so nice after about 10 over a year now, we lived in the same country, same city only 5 mil from each. Though we do not often meet, I know that you are nearby and not far from me if I need you.

You, Henrik and your / my beloved children…pause…they, C.W and Hanna (before I got Wilma) has felt like my own children many times and still do.
When you went to Chicago on some medical conference I had the opportunity to practice being a father for one week. It was rather stressfully…so stressfully that C.W went away with a “Light orange” one morning instead of fruit to mellis. But I really enjoyed to be with them, to care for them…
The entire living room ended up being a hut where I was telling stories to them at night before it was time to go to bed.

Beep, Beep, Bittie Beep

More Telegram has arrived:

Henrik:
“Now it's over with whip and leather, I wish I were the bride's clothes / Jonas Gardell

Karin:
“Ride this night” / Wilhelm Moberg

Both:
“Congratulations to the groom, congratulations bride. Wanted to come but was not invited / The King

Both:
“If love lives but the money runs out…do as I did: tape, pasting and cut out
/ Sigvard Marjasin

Several journies has it been, for you and Henrik, become in any way has also been shared with me…though I have not been present.
The one I am thinking mainly of is the journey to Australia…The Great Barrier Reef, WhitSundays Islands, Hamillton Island, Hayman Isaland.
There, I certainly, know that you all had “the time of your life”…more beautiful place…except Havstoviken, our childhood beach and The nails…does not exist on this earth, right?…
WhitSundays…No, I was not bitter, I, no :-)… I could close my eyes and thus see and almost feel what your family experienced….and…I was jealous because I wanted to get back there myself.

The fourth and last major journey was the Doha, Qatar. It turned out that you were going to move there…one, two or three years…time will tell. Because of this trip, you had, close to a year ago, a wedding…half-surreptitiously…for the sake of travel requirements… to the Muslim country of Qatar. It is, therefore, or at least a big reason why we all sit here today and celebrate both of you, Karin and Henrik.

I am proud of you and Karin glad that you Henrik will have the honor to marry my beloved sister.

Before I give a toast to the bride and groom, I give you Henrik a single advice…pause…
The only advice that I think you should follow…pause…
“If she ever is uncooperative, even resentful at some point, or stubborn as his father…HIT YOUR FIST ON THE TABLE!…and do exactly as she says

A TOAST FOR A BRIDAL COUPLE!!

Your little brother