Best Man Toast

Giving a Best Man Toast can be one of the most anxiety-injecting and stressful events in a young man's life.  I've given two such toasts and luckily both have gone well.  I had so many compliments on my latest toast for my brother Reid and wife Holly's wedding that I thought I'd share the script.  My method is to write up a script and practice it a few times like that, but then go to the notecard approach and not try to follow the script at all.  That worked really well as I was able to deviate from the script when needed and get more crowd interaction (highly underrated aspect of giving toasts). 

My actual toast went better than any of my practices, and probably the best compliment I got that it was "Razzle Dazzle," from my bro JD.  :)  I'm just happy to have added something good to the wedding; it was a great day.  Without further ado, here it is (I wish I had it on video ...).

"Hello Everyone! For those of you who don't know me, I'm Brent, Reid's older, more dashing brother. We're going to do a few toasts here, so make sure you have your glasses filled with your favorite beverages. First off, I wanted to thank everyone for making today possible, including Mom and Dad who did an amazing job with the landscaping and a thousand other tasks. Holly's Dad Ted helped with all the party setup and is a mastermind at hanging lights. Lynn provided an amazing rehearsal dinner with her now famous lasagna. Thank you Aunt Bonnie, Aunt Heidi, and helpers for the catering and service today. And, also VERY IMPORTANTLY we need to give a little pre thank-you the DJ and bartenders for keeping this party going all night long – no pressure guys!


Reid and I are only 16 months and 3 inches apart. We grew up very close. Going through all the old photo albums this week it reminded me that we were literally always together; rarely is there a photo with just the one of us. I also noticed that Reid has 3 classic poses, and ONLY three. In classic pose #1, Reid give the camera a “why the hell are you taking a picture of me look.” Classic pose #2 is Reid showing off his belly. Classic pose #3 is the most priceless with Reid having about a gallon of drool on the chest of his shirt and some more drool coming off his chin. Even though Reid wasn't the most photogenic we grew up together and became best friends and sometimes biggest rivals.


I was always grateful that Reid was able to keep Mom and Dad's attention most of the time with all kinds of stunts. He was always the more mischievous and wild one while I was able to sit back and be entertained. Inevitably, Mom and Dad would need to punish us boys to get our attention. Punishing Reid was nearly impossible, so Mom and Dad had to come up with some creative punishment. Dad made this cat of nine tails type device with a wooden handle and leather straps coming off it which I thought was pretty intimidating ... Reid on the other hand would get a couple swats with it and laugh the entire time. Mom and Dad needed to come up with even more creative ways to get our attention. Reid and I were about 11 and 12 years old one day when we were probably telling each other just how much we enjoyed each other’s company. Mom must’ve had a bad day because she had a short fuse; she came up with the most creative and effective punishment yet. Mom decided the best punishment would be to have us hold hands, look each other in the eyes, and tell each other loved each other. I don't think we performed the act admirably enough because then Mom took it to the next level … I’m sorry to say Holly that you were not Reid’s first kiss because Mom made us kiss ... on the lips. I'm glad to see that Reid has found someone who enjoys kissing him on a daily basis because I sure didn't.


All kidding aside, Reid is a great man and has been a awesome brother to me and friend to so many of us. Some of his greatest strengths are his positive attitude, charisma, and loyalty. He makes the people around him happy and in the end that is what makes him great. The fact that is becoming a NASCAR fan is just an added bonus for Holly.


All the Beros are excited to welcome Holly and her family into our family. I'd imagine especially my Mom who finally will have a girl around after more than 25 years of just boys. JD and I get a cool new sister who has to set us up with all her girlfriends. :) We know that Holly is committed and dedicated after a nearly decade-long relationship with Reid, well and maybe a sucker for punishment too. :) And, just because she is beautiful and funny doesn't mean that she is a prissy girl. Just a couple days ago I was watching Holly use the table saw ... it wasn't even a big deal to her. I was impressed but more so scared she was going to cut a finger off just days before the wedding. Apparently she's taken a power tools class ... looks like my Dad will finally have someone who can help him out with all his projects.


I am very excited for Reid and Holly. I know that the two of them are a great match for one another, just wait 'til they get out on the dance floor. Let's all raise our glasses to Reid and Holly and wish them a happy marriage and prosperity. To Reid and Holly, Cheers!"

Recap '07

Here we are again, at the cusp of a new year. Some excitement and fear fills me for 2008. I’ll look back and talk about where I was in 2007 and look ahead to possible paths for 2008. A little reflection never hurt anyone.

2007 was a year marked with overwhelming success but one striking tragedy for me. Successes include my career, health, finances, and adventures. I feel as if I am on an accelerating pace to a rewarding career, supurb health, and financial wealth. Thus, I’m increasingly comfortable with who I am and where I’m going; that is a pretty satisfying feeling. My greatest failure in 2007 was my relationship with Kelcy. It takes two to tango and it turns out we dance to different beats.

I got the most out of the Rotation Engineers Program (REP) at Intel and found a great job working for the Manageability Engine hardware design group. I design hardware that goes into every Intel Chipset (marketing calls this our PCH) from 2008 onward. I see rewarding challenges ahead in this career and am putting forth and steady and intense effort.

My health is ever-improving. I am fit and full of energy. It’s been another steady year of working out, playing sports, and making healthy lifestyle choices. Snowboarding, tennis, volleyball, football, and basketball were my sports of choice this year. I joined 24 hour fitness in autumn and took some yoga/core strength classes. My Hoopfest team (“Scratch ‘N Sniff”) played well in Spokane and we came away with 3rd out of 16 teams in our division. Chris, Pat, Collin and myself are the teammates, but next year we’ll have to replace Chris as his wife is due around that time. I became proficient in snowboarding and a bit of a snow bum. I was introduced to Tahoe powder on a glorious day of snowboarding at NorthStar ... we floated through knee-deep fluffy powder. Ohhh yeah! I hope to join a USTA tennis league, play well at Hoopfest again, carve up some mountians on my board, and place better at the Folsom Site Games in 2008. I’d like to gain 8 – 10 pounds of muscle and be able to pump out 12 pull-ups.

I made some good calls in 2007 in terms of the stock markets. I saw the housing drop-off coming a long way back and am poised to buy my own home in these depressed markets. Also, I correctly forecasted a stock market drop off in late Summer / Fall and was able to sell a lot of risky positions and shift into lower-risk securities. Of course I missed out on some whammies like selling Nokia too soon and not shorting the market but overall I’m pleased with my standing heading into 2008. My big push in 2008 will be to determine if I’ll buy housing in the Folsom area while continuing to effectively manage my roth and 401k. Early 2008 might also provide some opportunity to take profits on INTC stock. Maybe I’ll be able to start an online business ... some website that tailors to WiMax could have potential.

Hopefully 2008 will be kind to me in terms of relatoinships as 2007 was brutal. Kelcy and I had major problems in this make or break year for us and we’ve decided to move on. I hope this provides her with an opportunity to find a person to make her happier and helps her achieve her goals of getting married, starting a family, and moving closer to the Spokane / Missoula area. I wish her the best. It would be good to stay friends and keep in touch but I think she might need her space so I’m taking that approach. Ladies, this stud is available!

2008 is here and I’m ready for it. As always I’ll be working hard and playing hard.