Chris Mal's Toast to Drew & Margaret
Drew and I were at a Reading Phillies game about 10 years ago with Pete Gabrielli and Dave Petersen. Early in the game Drew decided he was hungry, so he told me "Chris, go get me a funnel cake." Naturally, without hesitation, I got up and got Drew his funnel cake. When I got back, Drew had a ball to show me, told me he had just caught it, that it would have landed right on my head � and we were probably on TV too. Since the Reading Phillies games are always replayed late at night, Drew was able to get a copy of the entire game � including his spectacular grab that would have landed right on me had I been there. Even the announcers were impressed and commented, "There�s a nice grab by a fan�and there�s the obligatory high fives." There they were on TV - Drew, Pete and Dave celebrating next to my empty seat. Drew has made a point of playing that tape every time I come to visit. And that pretty much summarizes my relationship with Drew. I would do anything for him, even if getting him a funnel cake meant missing out on my 5 minutes of fame.

Drew and I were friends long before that moment, since the days of Dungeons and Dragons � yes, Margaret, you can deny it all you want, but Drew was one of those�and we�ve been friends since the days of Pennside stickball, playing Capture-the-Flag in the Capilo�s back-yard, and listening to The Kinks in his bedroom. (Speaking of Drew�s bedroom, I should probably note, just so Margaret knows what she�s dealing with, that every inch of the walls of his bedroom contained all of Drew�s personal thoughts scribbled in pencil � at least, where there was room around the many pictures of baseball legends such as Tim Wallach and Cory Snyder.)

Anyway, I know we�ll continue to be just as close. Although we�ve finally weaned Drew off of pretending to slay dragons in his spare time, we�ll still play wiffleball in Cooperstown every year, we still listen to The Kinks, and now, thankfully, Margaret has provided him with a whole new set of walls to write on. I even expect that the picture of Tim Wallach will be hung prominently above the living room mantle.

Drew is truly the brother I never had, and if he�s half as good a husband as he is a friend, then Margaret is a very lucky person. Thank you both for allowing me the honor of standing beside you as you took this first step down the path of your life together.

Separately you two are special, remarkable people -- but together you are complete. Today we celebrate everything you have found in each other.

In conclusion, I have a traditional Irish blessing for you that I think is appropriate: May you always have walls for the wind, a roof for the rain, drinks beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all that your hearts might desire.