Loved the pictures. I still haven't figured out how to post. I did everything you told me to but it didn't work for me. I guess I'll just have to find someone to show me. Trouble is, I don't have grandkids....I'll have to borrow someone else's.

I had a long test to run today with time to think so this was fun to work on :) "Ladies and gentlemen, 50 years ago today (if on the day) a flame was light (a candle lights itself) that still burns today. One day in 1958 (or the correct year if earlier), TDH decided to get a bite to eat. He checked his funds (MG pulls out his pockets showing they are empty. Maybe one pocket then has a hanky  long hanky trick. He could pull other "pulling out of pocket tricks" and comes up empty. He gets the Âidea look and pulls change out of various audience ears, counts the money.) Since funds were low TDH headed for the nearest White Castle. Where (he could don a wig for her part  maybe?) TDW was working her shift. (this would be a good place for the trick where eggs are cracked into a container then a duck (or other critter) comes out.) Smitten by her beautiful (eyes, smile, etc - if itÂs not a surprise, ask him) TDH asked her for a date (magic flowers out of nowhere) and she gave him a hamburger (makes white castle bag or burger appear) One thing led to another (a trick involving a repeating surprise here) and *correct time period* later they were wed. (a trick with rice or doves?) After a while ____ kids were born ( there is a trick where one of an item (cane, fan, etc) is waved and each time it becomes 2, 3 etc this could match the number of children  or if there were only one or two children do this for grandchildren). Bringing great joy ( a trick that makes people laugh, with balloons maybe - Followed by a trick that involves breaking something) most of the time. There were times of plenty (something appears) and times of penny pinching (it disappears). There were some Âspats" (IÂm stuck for a trick on this) and plenty of love (something heart shaped or romantic). Over the years they learned to balance life (Juggling if he does that) and to work together (the card trick with the names) and through it all, they kept it together (the rope trick where it gets cut up and made whole again)  and that is real magic. (Makes a full glass appear) and so I ask you to Join me in a toast to my aunt and uncle and their first 50 years of marriage."

There are two things that you all might or might not know about me. I am by training (and more importantly by nature,) a writer. I’m also a huge fan of an open mic. That one is harder to explain. I love to write stories, so the writing of this speech, or toast, or whatever you want to call it wasn’t hard. I read it several times before my wedding so that I would be comfortable with the delivery. But not enough so that it would sound rehearsed. There were a lot of tears during it, I’m told, (Including my husband) Yesterday morning, I sent a letter with a copy of this toast to the editor of the vows section of the New York Times. She replied within minutes saying that they loved this stuff. Also, she said she wished she had received it last week so that we could have been announced in Sunday’s paper. She also said that she wasn’t going to say “think of her next time, “ because as she put it, I’m pretty much set for life.” She wished me well with “that boy”. It was an absolutely lovely rejection. :-) Thanks guys for your kind words about my words.❤️ Jo

No Costco in my state but I might peruse Aldi. Don't know about their quality. I just got the paper cups in tonight for the toast. Hubs says drinking champagne out of paper cups is tacky but I am not doing plastic, no way. Initially I was going to buy glass and give them out as wedding favors but the costs of these two weddings are setting me back about 1/4 of my yearly salary already. So I guess this is one of those "conventional or not?" dilemmas.