Listed below are some of the finest men alive. If wedding parties of 30 were permissible, I would have happily added another half dozen. They have been with me through some of the best times of my life as well as some of the hardest. I have been unmeasurably blessed by these gentlemen.
 |
Blake Carl aka "#2", "Blakus Birdicus", "Hot Carl"
The Best Man. He's called this for a reason. Even as a younger brother, Blake has always possessed a level of wisdom that men 10 years his elder lack. Not to mention that he is wildly intelligent, likes long walks on the beach at sunset, and is single. It's a rare blessing to have your best friend as your brother. |
 | Chad will recount that his first memory of me was overhearing my singing of Celine Dion in my dorm room (upon request I swear!). He proceeded to tackle me, one of the many important lessons that I learned from him. Always wise, God-fearing and a great listener, he has been a bedrock through difficult times. |
 |
Corey Slighly aka "Sligh", "McSlighly", "Sligh-dog", "Godfather"
|
 |
Davis Watson aka "D-Dogg", "Poor Richard", "The Piper"
A man can be said to be perceptive if he averages an adjective for every noun. Davis averages two. His prolific production of prose erupts from a desire to capture, convey and resurrect the rituals and myths of times present and past. A fine man and (clearly) an important fixture in Anna's life, I'm looking forward to many a film and feeding with him. |
 |
James Shortenhaus aka "JD", "Mr. Awesome", "Johnny Rocket" In all honesty, James and I were mismatched roommates, at least on paper. I listened to MP3s, he listened to CDs (and sometimes taps). I knew how to use a computer, he knew how to drink Mountain Dew with every meal. Yet our initial year in college quickly turned into many more. We spent many a night staying up figuring out life, making fun of people less fortunate than ourselves, and writing some wicked hooks for songs. After my years of meticulous perfectionism throughout high school, JD showed me the importance of always having a good time.
|
 |
Jared Sandel aka "Narcosleptic", "Jeyrod", (censored)
Sometimes I think that Jared and I could not be more different. Other times I think that we could not be more similar. He has been a friend that has sharpened me through the years (especially during our master debates at Taylor). And in spite of our frequent disagreements, our friendship has grown increasingly stronger as we have matured. More than any other, Jared was there for me during my sickest moments, calling me weekly (and sometimes daily) to see how I was feeling. A sharp wit and a heart of gold. |
 |
Joel McAndrew aka "Dos", "The Dos", "J-Mac"
When the Dos and I first met he mistakenly thought I was gay and I mistakenly thought he was really hot. He's become excellent at telling the story over the years in case you're interested. A perennial conversationalist, Joel can strike a common ground with just about anybody. We co-designed New York's greatest bachelor pad from 2006-09. When he realized that I'd was keen to marry Anna, he left me before I could break his heart. |
 |
Stephen Doorlag aka "Brooke's Husband", "Stevo", "Baabeey"
The first thing I noticed about Stephen was his enviably deep voice...at 16. Behind his booming bellows I began to see a man with a great heart, a particularly important consideration given his marriage to my younger sister in July. His endearing displays of affection remind me of the way my Great Grandpa Joe spoke about time he met my Great Grandmother...a marriage that lasted over 60 years. I'm delighted to be trusting him with my sister and adopting him into the family. |
