James Porter
Role: Colin’s Best Man
When Did Colin and James First Meet: 26 years ago
Where Did They First Meet: Malverne Country Day preschool, Malverne, NY
Where Have They Met Since: Maurice W Downing Elementary, Howard T Herber Middle, Les Mis / 1776 performances at Holy Trinity High School, not-at-all-awkward cotillions at Sacred Heart Academy, Camp Debaun, Frank Erwin Center, LBJ Library, the Bat Bridge, Breakneck Ridge, Norwood Ave, Johnson Ave, Maine Avenue, Corn Mazes and Cast Parties at Loyola College, the Vaps with Cecilia Kocinski-Mulder, the Crystal City Snowmageddon with Ryan Smith, the Amazing NY Race with Ryan and Hark, the 39 Days 39 Flames Survivor listserv, Recap Archives of Dalton Ross, Josh Wolk, and Michael Slezak, Facebook Chat, G-Chat, AOL Instant Messenger.
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Song Link: “A Song for You.” The lyrics below follow the original Donny Hathaway version of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9_nxjgeabM The song that is most special to James and I, though, is Elliott Yamin’s – the American Idol version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yKG0M4Gx64. American Idol is meaningful to the two of us in part because we flew to Austin to audition. (I absurdly made it on the show; James can actually sing.) The bigger reason Idol is meaningful, though, is because we find moments like Elliott’s. In the end, all the ridiculous elements of the show are worth it because every season, we see true talent emerge. Genuine underdogs get their shots.
Alternate Lyrics: We've been so many places in our life and time.
We’ve sung a lot of Proud songs, and we made some bad Albano rhymes.
We’ve acted out our lives on Hofstra stages, with way fewer than ten thousand people watching.
If this wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
Your Storm you may have treated Cyclops unkindly,
But Sir James can’t you see.
There’s no one more important, and no one can more fully see me.
If this wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
You taught me precious Ridin secrets, Of a true dove, consuming nothing...
Being serious, though, you came out in front the second I stopped hiding.
And now we're so much better, and if my words don’t come together,
Listen to the melody, 'cause my meaning is in there, not in hiding.
I've loved being with you in Rye Beach, in Six Flags, in any place where there's been space or time.
I've loved you being in my life, a Facebook algorithm informs me you're the number one friend of mine.
And when my life is over, remember, remember the millennia we spent online together.
If our bond wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
I even loved our day on Major Deegan, where there was no space and way too much time.
I've loved you being my life; even without a MySpace relationship, you’re still a friend of mine.
And when our life is over, remember, remember that may never be sentences we will not be able to finish together.
If our bond wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
If our bond wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
If our bond wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
We’ve sung a lot of Proud songs, and we made some bad Albano rhymes.
We’ve acted out our lives on Hofstra stages, with way fewer than ten thousand people watching.
If this wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
Your Storm you may have treated Cyclops unkindly,
But Sir James can’t you see.
There’s no one more important, and no one can more fully see me.
If this wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
You taught me precious Ridin secrets, Of a true dove, consuming nothing...
Being serious, though, you came out in front the second I stopped hiding.
And now we're so much better, and if my words don’t come together,
Listen to the melody, 'cause my meaning is in there, not in hiding.
I've loved being with you in Rye Beach, in Six Flags, in any place where there's been space or time.
I've loved you being in my life, a Facebook algorithm informs me you're the number one friend of mine.
And when my life is over, remember, remember the millennia we spent online together.
If our bond wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
I even loved our day on Major Deegan, where there was no space and way too much time.
I've loved you being my life; even without a MySpace relationship, you’re still a friend of mine.
And when our life is over, remember, remember that may never be sentences we will not be able to finish together.
If our bond wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
If our bond wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
If our bond wasn't clear all along, it's clear now, as I’m singing this song to you.
Singing this song to you.
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Davey Daddario
Role: Colin’s Groomsman, along with James Porter, Adam Eckstein, and Luis Vila
When Did Colin and Davey First Meet: 26 years ago
Where Did They First Meet: Malverne Country Day preschool, Malverne, NY
Where Have They Met Since: Chaminade High School, AOL Instant Messenger, A not-at-all-awkward Cub Scout Camp bus ride, Connetquot State Park, Hempstead Lake State Park, Hempstead Lake Indoor Tennis, Echo Park Pool, Oceanside Pool, Island Park Billiards, Ted’s Montana Grill in Ballston, Parking lot for towed cars in Ballston, Harry Potter Engagement Extravaganza, Back to School Night at Frost Middle School, Golden Reef Diner
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Song Link: “Our God is an Awesome God,” by Glad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjsKG5MMPZ8 This is one of the...dramatic...videos we saw on the morning announcements in high school.
Alternate Lyrics: Da-da-da-da-da-daddario...
When He rolls up His sleeves
That's one forest force to reckon with
(our Dave is an awesome Dave)
There is thunder in His Cabela footsteps
And lightning in His Krav Maga fist
(our Dave is an awesome Dave)
That's one forest force to reckon with
(our Dave is an awesome Dave)
There is thunder in His Cabela footsteps
And lightning in His Krav Maga fist
(our Dave is an awesome Dave)
Well, the Dave wasn't joking
When He kicked the government outta Rider
It wasn't for no reason that He shed every Commie card
Reagan's return may very close, so you better be believing
that our Dave is an awesome Dave
Our Dave (our Dave) is an awesome Dave
His propeller plane flies (now flies) from the clouds above
With wisdom (with wisdom) pow'r and skillll
(our Dave is an awesome Dave)
And when you could not see a tunnel in the void of the ‘night'
(our Dave is an awesome Dave)
He spoke into the noon darkness and created the light
(our Dave is an awesome Dave)
A flood lamp he poured out on the Hudson
Best engineering picture I've seen -- it was boss
I have not too quickly forgotten that -- or that
Our Dave is an awesome Dave
Our Dave is an awesome Dave
Our Dave is an awesome Dave
(Our Dave is an awesome Dave)
(Our Dave is an awesome Dave)
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Adam Eckstein
Role: One of Colin’s Groomsman, along with James Porter, Davey Daddario, and Luis Vila
When Did Colin and Adam First Meet: 26 years ago
Where Did They First Meet: Malverne Country Day preschool, Malverne, NY
Where Have They Met Since: Maurice W Downing Elementary, Howard T Herber Middle, Island Park Soccer Field, AOL Instant Messenger, Harry Potter Engagement Extravaganza, Connolly’s Station, Golden Reef Diner, AMC Loews Roosevelt Raceway, a tenth of Europe.
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Song Link: “Homeward Bound” by Simon and Garfunkel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdfBKAt1j2A I think of this song virtually every time I come up from DC to visit Adam and other lifelong Malverne friends. The song also connects with Adam’s interest in classic rock and our…interesting…experience on a sleeper train in Munich...
Alternate Lyrics: We were sittin' in the Munich railway station,
Had two tickets for our destination. Mmmm.
On a four-night tour of European lands, our suitcases and steins in hand,
And every stop was neatly planned, by a poet and a Trinidadian man.
Had two tickets for our destination. Mmmm.
On a four-night tour of European lands, our suitcases and steins in hand,
And every stop was neatly planned, by a poet and a Trinidadian man.
Paris bound,
With a laptop, I wished I was.
Paris bound.
Paris: where my RAM was escaping.
Paris: where my MP3s should've been playing.
Paris: where my laptop should've laid waiting,
Silently for me.
Every moment that night was an endless stream
With a laptop, I wished I was.
Paris bound.
Paris: where my RAM was escaping.
Paris: where my MP3s should've been playing.
Paris: where my laptop should've laid waiting,
Silently for me.
Every moment that night was an endless stream
Of Gunther-Martin-induced fever dreams. Mmmm.
And each of their lies sounded the same to me, the low grunts and posh pieties.
And each stranger's face reminded me that I longed to be,
Paris bound.
With a laptop, I wish I was.
Paris bound.
Paris: where my memory card was escaping.
Paris: where classic rock should've been playing.
Paris: where my laptop should've laid waiting,
Silently for me.
Tonight I sing this song again,
And reflect on the brute and choirboy's game of pretend.
But as all their words come back to me, in shades of empty mendacity,
Suddenly I find harmony, as I remember the person who was there to comfort me.
Paris bound.
Even without my laptop, I'm glad I was.
Paris bound.
Paris: where jacket stuffed memories have no chance of escaping,
Paris: where victory parade visions will always be playing,
Paris: where my loyal friend lay waiting
Silently for me.
Silently for me.
And each stranger's face reminded me that I longed to be,
Paris bound.
With a laptop, I wish I was.
Paris bound.
Paris: where my memory card was escaping.
Paris: where classic rock should've been playing.
Paris: where my laptop should've laid waiting,
Silently for me.
Tonight I sing this song again,
And reflect on the brute and choirboy's game of pretend.
But as all their words come back to me, in shades of empty mendacity,
Suddenly I find harmony, as I remember the person who was there to comfort me.
Paris bound.
Even without my laptop, I'm glad I was.
Paris bound.
Paris: where jacket stuffed memories have no chance of escaping,
Paris: where victory parade visions will always be playing,
Paris: where my loyal friend lay waiting
Silently for me.
Silently for me.
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Luis Vila
Role: Colin’s Groomsman, along with James Porter, Davey Daddario, and Adam Eckstein
When Did Colin and Luis First Meet: 16 years ago
Where Did They First Meet: Peconic Dunes Nature Camp, Southold, NY
Where Have They Met Since: Chaminade High School, AOL Instant Messenger, SUNY Stonybrook, a White Stripes concert at Madison Square Garden, his table when he waited on my family at TGIFridays, Island Park Billiards, Long Beach Park Avenue Twin Theater, the Fresh Meadows Theater with the tricked-out reclining seats, the Breaking Bad exhibit at Museum of the Moving Image.
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Friendship Summary: [NOTE → I initially thought I would do friendship summaries for everyone, so I wrote one for Luis. I then realized if I did a summary like that for everyone, I may not actually make it to the wedding, so I abandoned the idea. Luis’ summary, however, is still here…] Luis and I first met at Peconic Dunes nature camp in 8th grade. He knew no one; I knew one. He wasn't huge into nature; I wasn't huge into nature. He was quiet; I was......okay, I don't think I was ever quiet.
The friendship really worked, though, and it gave me hope that I would be able to find similar bonds during the next daunting period of my life: HIGH SCHOOL. Although similar bonds ended up being hard to come by in high school, the only dark social period of my life, I was fortunate enough to find an identical bond...with Luis himself! That week at nature camp we had somehow neglected to mention that we were both headed to Chaminade a few weeks later!
We walked into the 1L Law homeroom that August, saw that we would seated right next to each other, and did a double take. In the many years since, we have done many more double takes -- in Long Beach, in Manhasset, in Malverne, and most recently, in Flushing. That sense of amused disbelief at ridiculous things we encounter has fueled our friendship in the past -- and should continue to in the future...
Song Link: "El Shaddai" by Amy Grant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVujU9K0ajI This is one of the...dramatic...videos we saw on the morning announcements in high school.
We walked into the 1L Law homeroom that August, saw that we would seated right next to each other, and did a double take. In the many years since, we have done many more double takes -- in Long Beach, in Manhasset, in Malverne, and most recently, in Flushing. That sense of amused disbelief at ridiculous things we encounter has fueled our friendship in the past -- and should continue to in the future...
Song Link: "El Shaddai" by Amy Grant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVujU9K0ajI This is one of the...dramatic...videos we saw on the morning announcements in high school.
Alternate Lyrics:
L Vila, L Vila
Sometimes Felipe, sometimes nah
Age to age, you're still the same
Despite your ever-changing name
L Vila, L Vila
L Vila, L Vila
Despite your ever-changing name
I will praise and lift you high
L Vila
L Vila
Through your love
And paper football scram,
And paper football scram,
You saved the son of another Chaminade man.
Through the power of your pool hand,
You turned a dry night
Into a strong Island stand.
And to the outcast
on his knees,
You were the one
Who really sees,
And by your sight,
Set your Flyer free.
