Ed & Carol’s Slightly-Secret Silver Anniversary Party

This past Saturday, we threw a semi-surprise 25th anniversary party for my mom and dad. Everything came together so well and despite some quite undesirable weather, it went way better than I expected.

There were fireworks the night before due to Canada Day celebrations, but there were also emotional fireworks that day as I saw my parents, who also happen to be best friends, surrounded by friends and family honouring such an amazing accomplishment in their lives.

I decided to post the speech I wrote for the occasion for two reasons.

1. For anyone who may not have been able to make it, and

2. In case I feel like looking back on the masterpiece I threw together.

Ed & Carol’s 25th Anniversary Speech

Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate Ed and Carol (mom and dad’s) 25th wedding anniversary. Despite the 6-kid strain and the hustle and bustle of life, they’ve made it this far and are still going strong. Through moving, new jobs, new opportunities, traveling, and more, these two high school-ish sweethearts are here among friends and family to celebrate their Sweet Silver anniversary.

A long, long, time ago, a love for sports (and the spotlight) in high school led to friendship, which led to dating, which led to Dad asking my Grandpa Jack for Mom’s hand in marriage. Despite previous assumptions, my Nana Joyce says that she doesn’t think Dad could have had a better girlfriend and picked a better wife. She says mom was fun-loving, and was always able to go with the flow. Something that hasn’t lost its charm as we all know.

Speaking of something that hasn’t lost its so-called charm, everyone knows that my mom and dad are last-minute planners. My Grandma Millie told me that a mere day before the wedding, she and Mom went out to get the wedding bands. Surprised?

The next day, on July 6th 1991, in a little chapel on the army base with only a few people in attendance, these two tied the knot. My Grandma says she always wanted to be a bridesmaid, and to stand up for her youngest daughter was really special. A dinner followed their ceremony where my Papa Lee ordered a round of chicken wings. Not your typical wedding food, I admit, but I now know where I get my love for chicken wings.

A couple years later, my parents were blessed with the greatest of gifts, me. And at near-perfect 2-year intervals, Jake, Sarah, Isaac, Noah, and Millie came along. The adorably over-protective new parents, enforced rules such as “not biking past the fire-hydrant”, “the legendary Harry Potter ban”, and “staying home from school on Halloween”. In moments when Dad would want to rush us to the hospital, Mom would re-assure him that a cold was nothing to be alarmed about. They complemented each other. They still do.

I read that the average cost of raising a child to age 18 is $243,660. I tried to calculate the average cost if the child plays hockey, but even Noah (who got 100% on his math exam) couldn’t count that high.

So, aside from being stinkin’ rich apparently, my parents have worn many hats. Growing up they have been: Personal Chauffeurs, Cheerleaders, Culinary Experts and corresponding Song Writers (*tiny chunks, tiny chunks of cheeeeese*), Teachers, Coaches, Managers, Therapists, and more. All of these can be re-grouped under one term: “Parents”, which deserves a salary none of us can afford, not even if we collectively “save-the-money”. I’m also under the impression that they’ve been above-average friends, siblings, and children as well.

There are new things about my parents I’ve learned over the past few years, for instance my Dad apparently enjoys mini Coronas in the bath, but one thing us kids have always known and never doubted is how much our parents love each other. They got it right the first time, something not everyone these days can boast about. I could go on and on about all the challenges my parents faced and their accomplishments over the past 25 years, but I think I’d lose Dad’s attention, if I haven’t already.

All in all, Mom and Dad, thank you for being great role models to all of us and for proving that love conquers everything. You’ve been, and continue to be an inspiration. Thank you to everyone for being here to celebrate with us today, and thank you to Big John and Sue for hosting.

You all get thank yous, so in return, I’d ask you to raise your glasses (or give a thumbs up if you don’t have a drink in hand) to Ed & Carol. To 25 years in the making. To the next 25 years, and everywhere in between.

To Ed & Carol.

#thoughts