To the New Mr. and Mrs. Young

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I've known Ashley since the 8th grade. In fact, she was one of my first friends as I moved here from Hong Kong 13 years ago. Funny -- and I'm sure many of you folks can identify -- just a little more than a decade ago seems like just a blink of an eye. The walks down the hallway, the nights we spent talking on the phone (for HOURS!) apparently about nothing at all, the support, encouragement and consolation spiced with laughter and tears ... every moment of the way growing up. That's the way were. And now, look at us. Look at HER! It seems that so much has changed, ... yet so much hasn't.

What hasn't changed is just that: Ashley. Ashley as a person. Ashley in her core.

Throughout our friendship, I've known her to be an exceptionally nurturing, kind and considerate person ... obviously, with a sweet face and warm voice to match. But most of all, she's always been unafraid to be devoted, loyal, and possesses the purity of heart to love.

Unafraid.

And it is with the same courage and love that she sits here, hand in hand, with Greg ... committed to a lifetime of devotion and loyalty that she's given in every other area of her life ... lived with LOVE in her heart.

With this said, let me tell you what a revered poet said about Love once upon a time that is so bright, so poignant and so pure that it reminded me of what I -- what WE -- see here in Ashley and Greg:

... Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
and to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
to return home at eventide with gratitude;
and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

~ Kahlil Gibran

Now, a toast to Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Young!

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