Brian’s Toast
Somewhere between the age of 12, when Jon and his friends stopped beating me, and the age of 25, I realized that my brother is actually an ok guy. More than that, he is a well educated, well traveled, worldly adult. Having traveled a bit myself; I’ve realized how much more we have in common than I ever knew.
However, I must say that one thing that Jon could use some improvement with is his timing. In December of 2002, I went to visit them in Costa Rica. He asked that I bring a bottle of fine Costco brand champagne with me. When the moment was right, he would propose, and assuming events went to plan, we would pop the bottle and have ourselves a little toast.
For 9 days I carted this bottle of champagne. Starting in San Jose, and then on to Limon and Sixaola and into Panama along the Caribbean coast did we travel. Did the right time present itself? Nope. Nor was the crossing of the border into Panama, or the taxi ride deep into that country, or even the boat trip to the island getaway of Bocas del Toro the right time. Certainly it was not.
For two days on that island did we enjoy fine drinks, Central American beer and liquor. Was champagne on the menu those days? Indeed not. We came back into Costa Rica, and to a rain forest paradise called Gandoca. We walked through the forest high above the ground and rivers, along a walkway suspended above the trees.... What a beautiful and surreal spot, I was so touched by its beauty. Was it THE spot? Naa.
By now the champagne had suffered more shaking and bouncing than a San Francisco earthquake, and been exposed to more heat and humidity than a Houston summer. My obviously uncomfortable black bag continued to hang by my side with the bottle within. I wondered if Marisol was going to ask me why I kept such an annoying bag so protectively and close by side absolutely everywhere that we went. Happily, her readiness to just say “you’re weird” was the extent of that discussion.
A few more days of such “not the right moments” followed. From Sarapaqui to Las Cruces and on to the Pacific coastal town of Dominical. The temperature was a balmy 100 degrees with 200% humidity, and on our final day, we hiked up the coastal mountains for what seemed like hours; up and up did we ascend. The bottle soon weighed down my shoulder and compressed my spine.
And finally, on a perfect overlook above the Pacific ocean did we stop. Not only was this the most beautiful spot, but it was THE perfect time. It was sunset, and the bright orangish red sun was dipping below the surface of the Pacific. Please be the moment I said to myself and IT WAS! The proposal came as quick and well delivered as a Samurai sword thrust, and we were all run through with emotion. Jon read his well crafted poem for the occasion and the deal was done. The ring emerged, the finger was extended (and not the middle one most thankfully), and the moment was had. Out came the champagne! The metal wire that is often to be found on champagne bottles was unfurled. The cork, after its week long internment in hot, shaky, humid conditions had had enough. Without further adieu, of its own accord it shot out of the bottle and into the heavens, never to be seen again... and then we enjoyed the best bottle of god awful warm champagne we've ever had.
Anyway, it’s been a fun time being Jon’s brother. He’s found for himself a fabulous and beautiful woman, so full of similar convictions and desires and life aspirations as those that he has, that I cannot imagine a better match for any two people than they to one another. I love them both and would like to toast to their happiness, their love and their life.
<raise glass> -- A toast to the perfect matrimonial partners.
