Speechwriting

In more of less of a panic that I wouldn’t know what to say at Norm and Vicky’s wedding, I decided today to actually jot down a few words. Actually, about 600 of them. (That’s really not a lot, considering it takes less than 3 minutes to speak them outloud.) I’ve read through it once, then set it aside and said it outloud to fix it in my mind. I think it works pretty well. I may need a little smoothing out here and there, but I did manage to capture the one thing about Norm and Vicky’s relationship that I wanted to capture (I think) so that’s a good thing.

I was intending to read a quote from Norm–what he wrote in my high school yearbook–as part of this thing, but I couldnt’ find an appropriate place or context for it so I left it out. But I include it below, because it is pretty damn funny, and totally typical of Norm:

Jamie–

This is Norman Perreault. Remember me? Norman Perreault? Oh well, I’m not so unforgettable. It’s been a rad time knowing you for two years and everything! Finally, hell has ended (that’s funny, I didn’t know hell could just END!) Anyway, it’s all over, finito, fini! We’re outta here, and I couldn’t be happier. Also, I couldn’t be more sad. I won’t be able to see all of you every day anymore. Just remember we have to see each other as much as possible. If we lose touch, you’ll be sorry. I’d hunt you down and really keep in touch with you. He he! So let’s party on during the summer, and relax, the worst has passed!

Norm then went ahead and drew a Metallica logo as a post script, after which he said, “I know it’s weak!”

One week from today Norm and Vicky will be married and on their way to the South Pacific. I’m still trying to figure out a way to sneak into their luggage and avoid going back to work.