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Apr
27
First I'll get verklempt, and then I'll get jiggy with it…
2010 at 11am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
Does anybody still say “getting jiggy with it?” Talk about a short-lived cultural phenomenon.
Also: this post is not at all book-related. Much as I love books, there are other things in my life that I like to write about sometimes. There. You’ve been warned.
Anyway, on to the main event.
My sister is getting married this weekend. My little sister. My sister who used to steal french fries off my plate when I wasn’t looking, who once threw a seatbelt at me in frustration and gave me a huge goose egg right smack in the middle of my forehead, who has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. And I’m not just saying that because she’s my sister.
I’ve had a year and a half to prepare for this (Tim proposed on Thanksgiving 2008), but really, it’s something I’ve been thinking about, in one way or another, for as long as I’ve known that someday she would find that one right person, and I would have to find a way to get through it all without doing the ugly cry too much.
Because let’s be honest, folks, the ugly cry is going to happen. Now it’s just about controlling how bad it gets.
There were times (actually, there were years) when I worried that this would not be an event that made me happy. Before Tim, I never liked a single one of Sarah’s boyfriends, and that’s not just protective big sister-ness talking. I’ve sworn eight ways to Sunday that I won’t enumerate her exes’ shortcomings, and I intend to make good on that, but I just have to tell you, interweb, that she picked a good one this time!
Seriously. I haven’t liked a guy my sister has dated since her very first boyfriend. She was five. His name was Jonathan. They were going to grow up and raise pigs together.
After Jonathan came a string of boys (and that’s what they were) who said all the right things. They knew they were *supposed* to like strong women who had their own ideas and opinions. They knew they were *supposed* to like confident women. They knew they shouldn’t be intimidated by independence and outspokenness. They gave great lip service to all of those ideas, but when push came to shove, they couldn’t hack it.
And then there was Tim.
Sarah and Tim, fall 2009.
And people, let me tell you, Tim gets it.
He sees all of the wonderful things in my sister—her strength, her honesty, her selflessness, her wicked sense of humor—and he loves them. He embraces everything about her and gives her the space she needs to learn and grow and create the life she’s dreamed of. And he’s totally not intimidated by the fact that ninety percent of the time, Sarah is the funniest person in the room.
Together, Tim and Sarah have created a relationship built on all of the things you’re supposed to build a relationship on. For good measure, they’ve added a childlike playfulness and sense of fun (those of us who have heard them have water fights while they’re supposed to be brushing their teeth can vouch for this), added patience for each other’s quirks (Sarah has learned that “you can’t just throw things into the washer willy-nilly” when doing laundry), and an abiding commitment to laughing as often as possible.
There was a moment a few years ago when Bob and I were out to dinner with my parents and Tim and Sarah, and I looked around the table and realized, “This is our family.” It was a beautiful feeling, and I’ve been reflecting on it quite a bit as I prepare for Sarah and Tim’s wedding and for the toast I’ll try to give without getting too verklempt (this post is a way to draft it and get my thoughts out). I can’t say enough how happy I’ve been to have Tim in our family for the last six years and how much I’m looking forward to seeing the life he and Sarah will continue to create together.
I feel privileged to be a part of it.
Here’s to a lifetime of love, friendship, laughter, and family for two of my very favorite people.
Oh, and their dog Angus. He’s good, too.
Now let’s get to the party where we dance like crazy!
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Now I’m getting all verklempt! Great post, Rebecca. I’m glad your sister found Tim!
lovely post. and, thanks for reminding me of “getting jiggy with it” — I’ll use it today sometime. Congrats to Sarah, Tim, and whole family.
Congrats to Sarah, Tim, and your family. They are a gorgeous couple, I hope everything goes off smoothly and that the weather is gorgeous
My little sister got engaged last summer and all I can do with wedding planning is draft my speech over and over in my head. It’s totally pointless because as much as I can hold in my feelings, I know I’ll break down when it comes to toasting my best friend/sister and the guy she’s marrying. I’ll be downing some champagne beforehand and try to make it more funny instead of serious. Let me know how your toast goes and good luck! From years of catering weddings, I know as long as you keep it semi-short, don’t go on about yourself, and don’t mention any specific exes, you’ll be fine.
Ok, glad I am not the only one getting all choked up reading about Sarah and Tim! I am such a sucker for a great romantic story! Have a wonderful time at the wedding and remember, crying while giving the toast is more than ok!
Oh, congratulations to your family! How wonderful!
(In the five minutes when people said “get jiggy with it”, we taught the phrase to my father, and he has never abandoned it. Except he thinks the word is “giggy”, and he thinks you’re supposed to say “I’m getting giggy with that” as in “I’m down with that”.)
This is such a sweet post, Rebecca! I am getting sniffly and I don’t even know your sister or her husband-to-be. Sounds like you have a really FUN and strong family unit, which is awesome
No one in my immediate family is married or close to it at this point, but I know if/when it happens… there will be jiggy-ness gotten with by all.
This is a very sweet post, Rebecca! I hope you have a great weekend and savor the beauty and joy of your family.
Congrats to Sarah and Tim!
And don’t worry about the ugly cry. Just be sure to whip out the tissue beforehand so the mascara doesn’t run amok.
Then are ya gonna party like its 1999? Just to date ourselves a little more? This was such a sweet post. Those two are just too damn cute together. It almost makes my cynical heart do a flip-flop. I wish them all the happiness in the world, congratulate you on your bigger family, and pray for your strength in getting through that toast!
Thanks, Sandy! I’m going to need all the strength I can get.
That’s great that your sister really found the guy who seems just perfect for her! Hope they spend many years laughing together. Good luck with the toast – I’m sure you’ll do great even if there is a little crying! =)
aww, i loved reading this. and the picture with their dog is just too much!
they sound like a wonderful couple, and you sound like an amazing big sister!
This is such a lovely post. Your sister sounds awesome. I have a younger sister as well, and I’ve always felt protective and proud of her. I’ve no idea how I’ll get through a toast when she gets married!
Ok, so I got all choked up at the “This is our family” part – that is so special. What a beautiful post. Congratulations to all of you! Have fun this weekend.
And P.S.
I’m all na, na, na, na, na, na, na gettin’ jiggy in my head now…
I was going to say that you have a toast right here if you didn’t say it yourself. I’m getting a little verklempt reading this. I’m so happy for your sister and your family! I wish I had an older sister like you!
I’ll tell you all about it at BEA, but I have a feeling it’s going to involve A LOT of the ugly cry.
What a lovely tribute to both your sister and Tim. I teared up a little at the part where you talked about realizing that the six of your were your family.
What a sweet post! Makes me hope that my sister can find someone brilliant who appreciates her for who she is – just like your sister has with Tim. And I thought it was so wonderful how you realized a few years ago that you all were a family. Great post and thanks for sharing! And good luck with your toast!! Congrats to your sister, Sarah and Tim!!
Aw, what a sweet post, Rebecca. Congrats to Sarah and Tim. I hope you have a wonderful time at the wedding, and enjoy the time with your family.
It will be a fabulous toast!
[...] I also shared a pillow talk post in which my husband laments the fact that I don’t obey, a tribute to my sister and her husband (they got married on Friday), and a wrap-up of my April [...]
I *really* want to see the pictures of you getting jiggy with it on the dance floor.
On a serious note, you can see how in love your sister and her new husband are in this picture. Wishing them much happiness!
sorry I’m so far behind on this but …
Wow, what a wonderful post! It truly is wonderful to see someone you love find love with the right person. I hope you have a fantastic time at the wedding … and that you don’t cry TOO much.