The bride's portion of the bridal party are made up of some of Lisa's nearest and dearest.
Dina Anchin has known the bride for her entire life. Separated by only two years, they were thick as thieves as children and remain so today. They've travelled the country and other countries together, having heaps of adventures and wreaking havoc in every city they've passed through. Other than a childhood incident involving a sandbox and a plastic shovel, their friendship is rock solid, and though separated by distance--Dina is an art conservator for Harvard's museums in Boston--they are as close and as silly as two sisters could be.
Lisa and Jessica met during the very first week at Smith. Someone had sat on Lisa's glasses during orientation, so she spent the first week of school with her glasses taped together Harry-Potter-style. Jessica befriended Lisa out of sheer pity, and the rest was history. Lisa spent the semester dragging Jessica to their classes, and Jessica's penchant for debauchery and midnight mischief got them into more trouble than should be documented on the internet... honestly, they still get into more trouble than should be noted here. They sealed their friendship at a formal pajama wedding four years later at the Second Floor Window Seat in Morrow House. Jessica still gets into trouble, but by day she does excellent work at WomanShelter/Comañeras in Holyoke, MA.
Meghan Flanagan, Bridesgal
Lisa and Meghan also began their friendship that first week at Smith. With a mutual love of long and impressive words (resistentialism being a clear favorite - look it up, you won't regret it), silly voices, Johnny Depp movies, and making things out of electrical tape, they spent an epic year as roommates as sophomores. Later after they both moved back to NY and got "real" jobs, they met weekly for pots of tea and scones while continuing to explore extremely intellectual subjects like dinosaurs, indulge in the odd tarot reading and craft project, and watch internet videos. Meghan, currently working on a PhD in engineering and water diplomacy at Tufts, still makes time to send Lisa the best internet videos (including the Russian version of Winnie the Pooh).
Sarah Protz, Bridesgal
The third Smithie in the wedding party, Sarah was Lisa's first little sib at Morrow House. As a Head of New Students (HONS), Lisa helped Sarah move all of her things up the fourth floor (that's six flights of stairs), including two enormous wooden palm trees. They developed a strong friendship steeped in bottomless pots of tea, afternoons crafting, and hours scheming up ridiculous stuffed animals for their friends. Along with Meghan, they spent the post-Smith years in NY meeting weekly to create a magazine for uppity women. Librarian by day, MLS student by night, Sarah still takes time out of her crazy schedule for crafty breaks.
Nicole Salm, Bridesgal
Lisa and Nicole met at a vegetarian potluck during their first week at Columbia together. That night, while sitting on the floor eating homemade sushi, they sowed the seeds for a legendary friendship, discussing everything from art, to graphic novels, Miyazaki films, and paper projects. As roommates the following year, they indulged in all things ridiculous, and after Nicole moved away, they began a letter-writing project. Weekly letters were supplemented with visits between Minneapolis and New York and a 2013 vacation to Portland and Seattle, and Lisa and Nicole remain as close as they were on the Upper West. Nicole is a veritable superwoman, working for the University of Minnesota, volunteering at the Soap Factory, and in her spare time doing exciting, creative things.
The groom's portion of the bridal party have known Ezra since the days
before the internet. Very dark times. Thankfully, Ezra had
them to help him stay occupied. Terribly short attention span, that one.
Mark Jaffe, Groomsguy
Back in high school, Ezra
and Mark put on punk shows together. They drove around NJ handing out flyers, going to other shows run by
teenagers, and seeing bands mostly made up of kids. Having very little idea what they was of no consequence. Mark is a living reminder now for Ezra that you probably can, and probably should, just do it yourself (whatever 'it' may be) because
you’ll get more out of life that way. So it’s only fitting that when Ezra was learning to knit so he could
make something for Lisa’s birthday, it happened at Mark’s apartment at the same
time Mark was working on his newly founded business. Sure, delivering farm fresh food for Brooklyn businesses is
a tad more involved than knitting a cowl, but still. You see what I’m getting at.
There’s a lot of music out there. Really, just oodles. This is a wonderful thing, on par with sliced bread and democracy. Even with so many options, you may find yourself getting stuck listening to the same thing on repeat. Good songs have that effect. Thankfully, Ezra had Alex there during all the important points of his musical development, challenging him to find more and not stop at Soundgarden’s “Superunknown” (though this does still find its way into his rotation). If you’re not a music-oriented person, I’ll provide a more universal example of how important this is: Say you grow up hopping around on one foot. One day a friend shows you how to use both feet, and then to run, and then to jump, and then to dance, and then and then and then. It’s like that.
Anyone can appear smart by memorizing Pi to the 400th digit or repeating back something they read in a book. That’s only so impressive (like Jeopardy). Real smarts means having insight (like finishing the Sunday Times crossword). Add in a healthy dose of compassion and empathy and you have a recipe for a genuine, top-notch individual. If you are lucky enough to meet one of these people, I suggest keeping them around. You’ll learn something and, more importantly, you’ll get better at seeing the world around you in new ways. Ezra has been doing his best to learn from Jon for a while now, and as long he, Mark, Alex, and Jon keep up their semi-regular game of Spades (blind ten, anyone?), he’ll have at least that time to learn a bit more.
Everyone needs a mom in their life who is not actually their
mother. That person who can bake
you pie, cut your hair, and listen to you complain, all without losing
interest. I’m not saying Emma is
Ezra’s mother. I’m just saying
that if he were to suddenly find himself in a situation-based comedy like
‘Big’, Emma would be the friend he’d run to in order to keep the plot moving
along. No one would be as caring
and patient as he relearned how to be a teenager. Hold on. Wait. Who are we kidding? He essentially still is a
teenager. Seriously, have you seen
what he eats when Lisa’s not around?
Su Sebastian, Groomsgal
When Su becomes the CEO of a leading international
non-profit one day or is elected to public office, Ezra will be the first
person to shout ‘told you to so’ in the face of anyone who thought she couldn’t
do it, as if there's anyone foolish enough to have such a silly opinion. Su is as determined as
she capable as she is able to get lost while using a compass. No one’s perfect, you know? Just ask her about the time Ezra moved
to Santa Barbara…wait, forget that.
