As some of you may know, I recently got hitched. I wish I could have invited all of my friends here at allpoetry.com to the wedding. It was a happy day. But since I couldn't, I'd like to share with you the speech my best man gave. His name is Colin Cunningham. You may know him as an actor, most notably as Major Davis on Stargate SG1. I think it's a great piece of writing (and not just because it's about me. lol) I hope you enjoy it.
Mark
"The great romantic, Leo Bascallia once wrote, “What love we've given, we'll have forever. What love we fail to give will be lost for all eternity.” I believe just after that he shot himself in the face. But I digress.
Friends, honored guests . . . and people sitting at the weird, kind of ‘not really any of the above' table . . .
I’ll try not to lament on how I met Mark Rickerby, our anecdotal childhood, nor the honor it is for me to be here tonight. This is not a tribute. Mark’s not dead. He’s just getting married.
Neither am I here to offer advice on matrimony. I am a bachelor, have never been married and hold my toilet seat up they way our Marines held up the flag at Iwo Jima.
Instead, my role here today as best man (if I be worthy of such a title) is to represent one of the greatest friends I’ve ever known. But also to perhaps 'introduce' him to those on Claudia’s side of the aisle that may not know him as well as I.
Mark Rickerby is a friend.
A protector.
A romantic.
Not the ‘bubble bath and chocolate’ kind of romantic, but one of an insatiable quest to find beauty in all things.
A writer.
A poet.
A soldier in an army of Hemingway’s.
Mark has always been one who searches out the triumphs of ‘day to day’ to pay tribute to much forgotten. Mark has always thought a little harder, looked a little deeper, and felt a little more.
A man who has battled for such trophies as integrity, bravery, character, respect and honor, words no longer as common in today’s vocabulary, for they are trophies that do not come with a scratch and win, Happy Meal or diet Coke. They are things to be earned, not granted simply because you exist.
And so, all I can do is tell a few stories that may enlighten you as to who Claudia’s family will be spending Thanksgiving dinner with.
As younger men, Mark and I spent much time traveling about the Greek Isles, and when others were showing how progressive and enlightened they were by going topless, getting tattoos and having their genitals pierced, Mark was sneaking into the Parthenon just as the sun was setting over Athens.
Then, after all the tourists had been ushered back to their hotels and cruise ships, by the light of an Aegean Moon, he would come out of the shadows and take his own personal tour. He’d stand where Aristotle stood, where Socrates once spoke. One more Man pondering the what’s and why’s of life. One more ghost.
For as a younger man, Mark had the wisdom to know that his rights of passage would encompass more than a beer bong. That, and if he wanted to pierce his weiner, well, he could do that right here in West Hollywood.
One morning on the Greek island of Paros, as the college graduates were icing their nipples, Mark pulled me away from the action to visit a local graveyard. As was Mark's style, his purpose for travel was always far greater than putting notches on a pension’s bedpost.
The small cemetery was old but tidy, nothing incredibly unusual, only this one did have something neither of us had ever seen before. There were small, glass boxes - ‘aquariums’ if you will - at the head of each grave. Some were very old, others current to the times. But what they all had in common was the fact that they all contained personal contents of the deceased. Things such as a pocketwatch, photos, medals, etc.
I know it may sound a bit morbid, but bear with me. It was incredible, for these glass boxes were essentially ‘windows’ into their lives, and reminded one of things far greater than any cold headstone ever could.
Well, Mark and I had never seen anything like it. You literally got to know the person that lay before you - their family, friends. It was exceptional.
Having many questions about the place, we looked over to see a lone caretaker tending to a corner at the far end. He was an old guy. Quiet. Just sweeping about the place.
And so, keen for information, we approached the man.
Respectfully, we began our barrage of questions as to ‘why’ and ‘how’ and ‘what’, etc. But the old guy spoke NO English and instead just looked at us like we’d just asked him to scrub a lizard or something. He then gestured for us to follow him.
With that, we came to a small headstone and yet another glass box. In it were a couple of old black and white photos. One of a young woman and the other of a young couple.
Mark and I had no idea what it was, or why the man had brought us there. It was then the old man pointed to the ring on his finger, and then pointed back to the glass box.
He was the man in the photo. And the woman buried there was his wife.
To this day, I have never seen a sweeter, more profound introduction. This man took a part-time job at a cemetery so that he could be close to the woman he loved.
And it was then I realized . . . marriage is not for the timid. Not for those who seek safety. It is for the most adventurous. The most brave. It takes great strength. Determination. Faith. It is a subscription to things far greater than you are alone. It takes guts.
It takes a romantic.
My trips to Greece basically ended with a container of bad potato salad. But Mark continued on throughout the Mediterranean, throughout Europe.... and finally, to San Juan Capistrano where he met Claudia. And she turned out to be a friend of such beauty that it inspired, perhaps, his greatest adventure of all.
That said, I would like to raise my glass and propose a toast. On behalf of myself, my family, and all who have come together to make this day special.
To Mark and Claudia Rickerby. May God bless you, as we have been blessed through you. My love to you both."
- Colin Cunningham
In a list
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Comments
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This is truly the Mark I know =) This is lovely Mark... thank you for sharing.
Criss -
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Thanks, Criss.
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Forgot the applause again!!!
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I didn't realize you got hitched so recently, good for you!! Excellent speech, although I wouldn't expect anything less from Colin. It says a lot for your passion for life and what an exceptional person you are, Claudia is very fortunate, but from what I can gather.. so are you. :-)!!
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Bex,
Yes, I am very fortunate to have Claudia as a wife and Colin as a friend. Colin can do anything he puts his heart and mind to. I worried that posting this would be seen as self-indulgent but it's such a great piece of writing, I couldn't help myself. I also wanted to save it somewhere other than in my house, which has a black hole in it somewhere that everything falls into and gets lost forever. NASA doesn't know this yet but the ring spinning around Saturn is actually made of all my lost property.
Thanks for reading this one. Obviously, it has a special place in my heart.
M
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Isn't that something on so many levels
David
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Congratulations!
Dear Mark, I wish you and Claudia all the very best and God's choices blessings. May your union grow in love, happiness and prosperity. This speech is so apt and so heartwarming. I guess Colin has done a very great job, but so much less, for you are a person with so much goodness in you.
Sorry, I have not been on AP much lately due to my personal life and work. But I try to stay in touch with the people that i love and give love, otherwise we would be lost forever, thats what Colin quoted in the beginning of his speech. Take care and my best wishes to you both.
Love and light,
Lencio
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Lencio!
Great to hear from you, my friend. Thanks for the kind words. You're right - without love and friendship, life is nothing.
Welcome back. I'll be stopping by your page to check out your latest work when I can come up for air here at work.
Mark
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COngratulations on this happy occasion. Wonderful speech you share with us in this write by your friend. Certainly lets us know you a bit better. Many long years of happiness to you both,
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Hi Mark.
congrats on your marriage and for having such a good friend. Thanks for sharing this toast, they are powerful words of honor and friendship, I see you are blessed.
blessings,
Michelle
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I wish you and your wife a long and happy life together, a long, happy, and productive marriage. God bless.
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what a fantastic journey you've begun! congratulations to you and claudia. my boyfriend of 2 years and i were just engaged last week and i can only hope that i have a friend as wonderful as yours to speak on my behalf or on the behalf of my finacee. thanks for sharing!
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Well first the congratulations on you recent marriage. I hope your time together is long and filled with much love and companionship. As to the speech, it is a remarkable journey into the inner workings of YOU! And a testiment to the fact that you're a man of great talent and integrity. You are not luckier than anyone else, you have just proven that there is more to life than all the glittery stuff, and have been rewarded in kind with a life of substance. Here's to your new wife, family and friends, and happiness always... Ithica
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Wow
This is really a very heartfelt speech & nice stories about you too. Of course it doesn't make it such a wonderful writing because it talks about you ... You are lucky to have such a great friend who thinks of you so highly & I'm sure you would be worthy of every word... Congratulations on your wedding & May you have all the blessings that bring only sunshine smiles your way with no place for winter blizzards... take care Minoo
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This is beautiful. When it comes to marriage, the ceremony is something that should be breath taking, something that should be indescribable. A speech like this, would do it for me. Your best man must be one heck of a guy. This is quite possibly the sweetest speech I’ve ever read. It really is simply amazing.
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What an excellent speech!
So very touching and heartfelt, I could almost see you as you both toured the cemetary.
What a friend! You must be a pretty great guy to have someone speak of you this way.
Congrats on your marriage... Your grand adventure!
Best wishes to You and Yours!
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There are no words to describe the beauty of this piece. How lucky both you men were to have found each other and to have remained such incredible friends. I am jealous!!! And as for you finding the one perfect woman.... I congratulate you!!! Again jealousy sneaks up on me... You are truly blessed.
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congrats on your marrige i wish you the best of luck!! great write you best man has here!!
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!
MAY YOU BOTH LIVE LONG FRUITFUL AND EXCITING LIVES TOGETHER!!! wonderful words and no doubt very special to you you have a wonderful friend in him (live long and prosper)
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Congratz.. what a great speach... Brought tears to my eyes and made me say WOW............
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Heartwarming
It has been a pleasure to read the creativity of yourself Mark,always you write with a conscience and invite your reader to delve into the depths of their own.
It has been a pleasure and a priveledge to read the speech given by your best man Colin,it was certainly heartfelt and philosophical,much like your own creativity.
Thankyou for sharing a special part of your most special of days,may both Claudia and yourself and your families and friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving and always be united by such warmth with such depth.
Many blessings from across the pond,
Yvette
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oh wow, this is the most beautiful heart touching thing I have read on here. It beats all the poetry I've ever read.
Its a sort of prose but simply beautiful.
I bet it made your special day even more special!!!!
lexy xxx
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Dear Mark,
I'm very happy for you and the happiness you've found with Claudia. May your marriage be the beginning of many new and wonderful adventures. I'm sure Claudia is a very special person because you are a very special person, too. Colin's speech was 'right on'. I loved the part about the man taking a part-time job in the cemetary so he could be close to the woman he loved and I also love what he had to say about marriage not being for the timid but for the most brave. May you never stop being a romantic.. transforming 'ordinary' into 'extraordinary' for yourself and all the lucky people who know you.
Congratulations!
♥ Maureen
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Mark and Claudia *rose*
Tears...
Such a passionate write!
I do not know you or your beautiful bride.
I do feel as if I were a part of something truly extrodinary..
I love the amazing journey that has been placed before me today , your best man seems to be a bit of a poet hiself.:)
Thank you so much for sharing such amazing beauty with us...
Peace and Many Blessings to you bothCheers
~Asdzaa~
. Rewarded 8
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This is a great story.
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wow
always loved him on the show..that was a great speech..very personal touch -
Again, congratulations Mark on your marriage..I know you and Claudia will be very happy and blessed. This speech was probably the most eloquent and insightful I have ever heard/read...he was able to describe the Mark we all know in a way that illumines the deeper side of you...a true romantic with a heart of gold, a man of passion, conviction, strength and true humanity. I am honored to count you as a friend....suzy
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First & foremost, CONGRATULATIONS, my happily wanderin' Friend. Secondly, I love Stargate. Thirdly, I agree with everything he had to say about you. You have been blessed by finding each other, by having friends such as he who penned this fine, witty & incredible tribute to love & marriage. I am so pleased for you, Sweetie. Give each other a hug & know it's from me, Mark. Tell Colin he should continue to write, too. This was an enjoyable venture into the realm of your lives...& the story about the glass boxes was heart~warming. Blessings to you all. Wanda
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Colin is continuing to write. He's working on a book right now. He also wrote two movies, both of which I had the honor of helping him with. We did a few plays in L.A. many moons ago, too. He made a wise choice and moved to Vancouver, Canada where work for actors is much more plentiful without all the hassles and dangers of living in L.A. I miss him, but I'm happy for him. I'll let you know when the book he's working on is available. Thanks for the warm wishes. Great to hear from you, as always.
Mark
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He has great & many talents. Of course, I'm sure you've had a great influence on him, in a lot of respects, as he has had on you. 'Tis always my pleasure, Scribe.
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Hey Buddy, this was a nice insight into someone I'm glad to call a friend. Congratulations and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness. Take care and Have fun. Steve
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Thanks, Steve!
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Awesome!!
Congratulations!! Your friend is remarkably articulate and as the story of the cemetary with the aquariums his speach is one that gives us all a great window to your soul as he obviously knows and values your being May you be blessed with a rich full life to share with your bride and may all your friends be as wonderful as your "best man"
Congratulations!! Best Wishes for a life filled with joy that the two of you may share
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Thanks for the nice wishes, MG! I appreciate it.
Mark
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