Liz Bowen and I have known each other since we were teenagers in high school, when we were l proud members of both the school’s slam poetry team and Model United Nations Delegation. (We were Sweden.) I was always in awe of her raw artistic talent and poise when she would recite her work at our poetry competitions. She and I have seen each other through many seasons, and our relationship has sustained itself through a consistent and always-reliable sense of mutual support, respect and curiosity. Her seeming fearlessness in her pursuit to become a writer and accomplished academic throughout her life subsequently gave me the permission I needed to do the same.

I’ve also had the pleasure of getting to know Will from my trips up to New York City over the years, at my own wedding, and in Zoom calls during the pandemic. I’ve been delighted every time by his company, and his addition to my social circle has only made my life better, funner and more interesting.

I’m really happy to be here today to celebrate this momentous occasion for one of my longest, life-long best friends. Will seems to be the perfect partner for Liz both as she is today (a person that I cherish as if she were my own sister), and he also seems the perfect partner for the person that I suspect she will become in the future, too.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them, and I hope to be a part of their story in whatever way distance and the passage of time allows.

Cheers to the newest member of the Married Couple club!

(Even though they’ve been married for a year already lol)