Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog

{Images by Snapshots by Clare}

Even though it is tradition for the Best Man to give the toast, I like the idea of the Maid of Honor speaking as well {provided she wants to}.  The Best Man for our wedding is one of Rich's oldest friends from High School & my Maid of Honor is my sister, Jess.  Deb, Rich's sister, is essentially the "Best Woman" so we hope all three will want to give a toast at our wedding.  My sister & her husband, Jay, had two Best Men & I was the Maid of Honor.  Each of us spoke before dinner.  I read the poem, Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog, by Taylor Mali at their wedding.  I kept my introduction brief & on the silly side {I am not one for sap}. We are a family of dog-lovers, having three different golden retrievers growing up.  My sister now has two dogs, & my parents & I each have one.  I found this poem & knew it was perfect.

Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog, by Taylor Mali

First of all, it's a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York {note: I changed this to Portland}.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you're walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain't no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?

On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes
and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.

Love doesn't like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don't you ever do that again!

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you're all wound up and can't move.

But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.
Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

Comments

[Janet]

Love this!

[Felicity Kijana]

Nice poem, interesting point of view =)

I'm in love and I do have a dog =)

[Beth O'Connell]

I love this!! So true and when you spoke at Jess and J's wedding you did an awesome job! I admire your creativity, I am just your Family neighbor, I will do anything for you, but just keep it simple!

XO Happy New Year! The wedding will be here before you know it!
Beth O'C

[Wedding on Beach]

WOW!!!! What a beautiful poem!!!
Thank you so much for posting this, it really warmed my heart...