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Wayne Perg is my best friend, and I’ve known him for almost half my life, mind you, my life is only twenty-three years in length, but almost half of twenty-three is still a fair bit of time to know someone. Traci Lyn, Wayne’s lovely and caring fiancée, I’ve known for a little over two years, and while this is a much shorter span of time, I feel I’ve gotten to know her well enough to warrant some rights in writing this article. Now, you may be asking, exactly what article is this that I am writing? Well, I’m glad you asked. Wayne and Traci have given me the distinguished pleasure of writing something short and sweet about the two of them so you, the reader, may come to know them a little better from the perspective of a close friend of theirs.

The first thing I’ll say for the two of them I feel is also the most obvious thing to say, they love each other. Now, you might be saying, “well of course they love each other; they’re getting married aren’t they?” Yes, I must agree, in some ways this first sentence almost seems too obvious, and might appear an unnecessary statement for any couple that are about to be married. Yet, I feel it’s extremely important to begin with their love for each other, not because it’s so obvious, but rather because it’s so genuine. Love is easy to find in this world, almost too easy to find, a child walking down the street will peer into the local pet store and fall in love with the puppy in the window, only to be distracted by the candy store just across the way. A businessman may say he loves his job, when what he really means to say is he loves the money it provides for him. A man and a woman may tell each other everyday they love each other, when what they really mean to say is they love what the other can do for them. Love is very easy to come by, but it’s not love that’s so important as much as where that love is directed. This is why I feel my first statement is so important, for you see, they love each other, not with the kind of love that’s easily distracted by the next thing that comes along, nor the kind of love that’s interested in what each gets out of the relationship. Rather, I believe their love for each other is truly a love for the other. I’d say for them it’s not what they get from the other that makes they’re relationship so strong, but rather what they give to the other which makes their love so true and so genuine.

So, what more then must I say of these two, isn’t that enough? They love each other, and as John Lennon wrote, “all you need is love”. I suppose I could give a paragraph or two on why they love each other, but I believe this would be rather foolish on my part. First, the whys of love have never made much sense to me, and second, I don’t believe it’s my place to answer this question. If you’re really curious about it, perhaps you should go straight to the source, and ask them yourselves. However, if you’ll allow me the indulgence, I’ll tell you something of the two of them, making sure to cast them both in the best light possible, and, even at the expense of accuracy, I’ll focus on all that makes them good and neglect those few foibles which each possesses (and yes, Wayne, as it turns out, you’re not perfect, now get over it).

I’ll begin with Wayne as I’ve known him longest and best, and as I’ve already said, have known him almost half my life. Three words come to mind when I think of my best friend, the first is strong, the second is honest, and the third is independent. In the case of strong, I don’t mean this in the physical brute force and muscular sense (though I’d by no means call his physique either slight or weak) but rather strength in character and will. Indeed, I can think of few, if any, who posses a stronger will than his, and it is this strength, which comes from somewhere deep within rather than a power without, that characterizes his ability to take on any challenge with a quiet finesse that seems to overcome any obstacles. Yet, strength is not all he possesses, for he is also the most honest man I’ve ever met, and while sometimes his blunt straight forward style lacks a certain tact, none-the-less, no one can talk to Wayne and not know exactly where he stands. Nor can you talk with him and not know exactly where he stands, as he won’t give you any double talk or attempt to deceive you, nor change his position to agree with your own, what he says is what he believes and it’s that simple. I suppose in some way it’s the power of his strength and honesty that gives rise to his sense of independence, or perhaps it’s his independence that allows him to be so strong and honest. Either way, he is definitely independent, always wishing to stand on his own two feet rather than be carried on another’s back. The successes he makes are his own, as well as the failures, and one day, when he looks back on his life, I think, more so than anyone else, he’ll be able to say “this is who I am and this is what I did.”

Now, what of my dear Traci? What sort of a woman could put up with a man of such independence, such strength and honesty? Traci is one of the most caring people I know, always thinking of other people and concerned about their wants and needs. I believe, within her, is a general concern for the world she lives in and a desire to bring the best to those around her, always taking into consideration their thoughts and feelings. Yet, while her caring is most assuredly impressive, what has always struck me with greatest awe is her innocent zeal for life, she takes to life almost as a young child, putting herself completely in the moment and not holding back. So many live in the past, unable to remove themselves from their own histories, others are always living for the future, so busy planning for what is yet to come that they miss the here and now. Traci, however, takes to her world as a child would; fully exploring the moment she’s living in and fully appreciating its every nuance. I don’t know, but maybe it’s this innocent zeal for life that brings about the third aspect of her personality that I see as necessary to describe here, and that’s her devout faith. She seeks always to bring herself closer to the love of God, and through her church community, remain true to all the life values she so strongly believes in. I don’t know if there’s any power on this earth that could take her faith in God from her, and I believe this speaks wonders for the power of her spirit and strength of her soul.

Well, there you have it, a little something about these two young love-birds who soon will be blissfully joined in holy matrimony. I, for my part, hope these two find in each other all the love and joy they both so deserve in this world, and wish them both the best of luck

-Aaron Yeaman