Slainte!

October has been blissfully wedding filled, and in a few short weeks I've learned to whip,  nae nae, bop (bop bop bop bop bop), stanky leg, and even wobble.  My superman needs a little practice but by the time I master it, there will be a new dance and my wobble nae nae superman whip will go in the shed along with the Macarena and Gagnam style, gathering dust with the running man, and hammer thing I learned in 8th grade. 
The cherry on top of these nuptials was the wedding of my favorite older brother.  My favorite younger brother gave a wonderful speech, and though there was much ribbing throughout the night, such as quoting Aunt Voula---"We never think it could happen never!"---there was much truth, such as that my older brother is one of the most generous people known.  "He'd give you the shirt off his back," might have been coined to describe him.  His "yes" is not limited to a small personal circle but literally to any creature he encounters who might need anything at all, and he married an equally generous person, a woman Franciscan in her love for dogs and underdogs and living breathing beings. 
My daughter had the honor of fulfilling a three year wish, which was to be a flower girl, and I had the honor to read at the wedding Mass.  So much joy has lingered with me from the event and the reading I was given has been part of that as well.  When I received the printed text, I was like, "Opa!"  There are so many possible readings to be assigned and I got the plumb pick. 
It is indeed a most excellent way to live: attempting to remember, and live from, the one thing that never fails. 
Any bad decisions I've made have been a reflection of wandering from these truths; anytime I've used these words as the basis of a choice, I've never chosen wrong.  For everything that we've piled on top of what love is supposed to be, what friendships and circumstances are supposed to be, this reading shakes it off and gently corrects.  Cheers to that. 

Brother and Sisters:

Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.


But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues

But do not have love,

I am a resounding gong or clashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of prophecy

and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;

if I have all faith so as to move mountains,

but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away everything I own,

and if I hand my body over so that I may boast

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It is not jealous, is not pompous,

it is not inflated, it is not rude,

it does not seek its own interests,

it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over

injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing

but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.