To my friend Neta for her wedding

Life is experience driven

Like a multilayered cake

Each layer to you is given

To see what choice you will make

Moments make up each layer

One of them’s certainly this

And if you will forgive this prayer

Of another I will reminisce.

                *****

One summer evening in July

Only twelve years ago

My stunning bride to be and I

Took Neta to a show

We’ve done that many times before

Hang out with little sis

And talk to one that we adore

About the things we’ve missed

She’d talk to us about her school

The dolphins on her wall

How Britney Spears is really cool

And purple’s best of all!

                *****

That night was film night

And we chose, something a bit risqué

But thought – a comedy’s all right

And she should be OK

The movie’s title looked quite clean

A patriotic tale…

The actors, whom we’ve never seen

Seemed unlikely to fail

And so we went but from scene one

I grew a bit concerned

Although the movie was great fun

What lessons would she learn?

To make it easier on you

And to avoid details

I will present a little clue

Of subject it entailed

There are 4 teens, they’re not too cool

But all have an affinity

For trouble and for leaving school

Without their ….virginity

The movie is…..American Pie

That’s where we took our sis

The only question on my mind

“Was ignorance her bliss?”

That, after we walked out the door

I turned to her and asked.

Hoping, as never had before

Some things to her were masked.

Alas, without a hint of doubt

She turned, as I recall

And said, “So that’s what High School is about?

I‘m starting it this fall!”

Oy Vey, I thought, this stage is new

The dolphins may be there

But little Netachka we knew,

Had now become aware.

No longer little or naïve

How would she handle it?

Whom, and in what will she believe?

Which road will she see fit?

                *****

Four short months after that event

My bride to be and I

Got married under Chuppa’s tent

With Neta standing by.

But now we’re here, the tables turned

Today you are the bride

And we are not at all concerned

With man that’s at your side

Twelve years have passed

And just like then, you are about to start

A new adventure with more tests

That will be just as hard

But, knowing you the way we do

To this we can attest

Whatever life throws out at you

We know you’ll do your best!