Where I Stand — Amy Greenspun: Congratulations, cousin!

Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000 | 2:01 a.m.

Amy Greenspun is the daughter of Sun Editor Brian Greenspun.

I am always honored when I have the rare opportunity to not only share my thoughts with Sun readers, but to do it in the very space that was once my grandfather's and is my father's today.

On those rare occasions, I have chosen to write because something has happened in our community or our world that has inspired me to share my perspective. And, once again, I am inspired.

Like all of you, I take an enormous amount of pride in my family. There are many reasons for that pride, but perhaps the greatest is that my Poppa Hank's legacy, his dream for a strong and united family, has been realized.

He spoke often of the importance of a successful family -- one bound together by love, respect and decency. He and my grandmother, Barbara, instilled this value in their children and they, in turn, in their children. The result is a brood of 10 grandchildren living out my grandpa's dream.

I reflect on my Poppa's wisdom because yesterday our family grew. No, another baby was not born to my Aunt Janie, but, yes, our family was blessed with an addition. In a warm and touching ceremony, my cousin Alyson joined hands with Ori Marmur and they said their marriage vows while Alyson's mother and father, Susan and Mark Fine, and Ori's parents, Nava and Eli Marmur, lovingly looked on.

It is hard to believe that Alyson is a married woman. It seems like just last year when the two of us went into business together. We opened a lemonade stand on a golf course, displaying true entrepreneurial spirit from a 7- and 8-year-old. But good businesswomen we were not, having been taken advantage of by our older cousin and managing partner, Jeffrey, who conned us out of our fair share. Needless to say, the lemonade stand did not last long.

It seems like a month ago when we got our "boy haircuts" in an effort to keep with our very cool tomboy image at ages 11 and 12. Those dos lasted until we were both mistaken for young men and asked to help an elderly lady with her bags.

And it seems like yesterday when Alyson met Ori during our family vacation on the beach. After initial attempts to woo Alyson were rebuffed, Ori stayed the course until her heart, only days later, was won. I will never forget Alyson's arrival at my apartment one day, food for the both of us in hand. I watched as a giddy little girl told me all about their most recent date.

I sensed something was different this time so I asked the question, the one that always brings clarity to the confusing states of dating. "Could he be The One?" When I heard a very sweet and delicate "maybe," I knew. It is these -- ones that begin with a favorite playmate and continue with an extraordinary friend -- that I cherish.

While all of the Greenspun grandchildren weddings will be significant, Alyson, being the first to take the plunge, has set the bar. Just like Barbara and our entire family was last evening, I know Poppa Hank was beaming with pride as Alyson tenderly and passionately brought Ori into our family.

We were proud not only because Ori is a loyal, centered, honest and compassionate man, but also because he was smart enough to choose Alyson. My cousin is a woman who is full of life, who is talented, who is generous and who, by her choice of Ori, exhibited a keen understanding of what my grandfather meant when he told us to keep our family healthy and strong.

The adoring couple was surrounded by family and friends who shared in the celebration of their union, each guest feeling the affection and love that radiated from the newlyweds. I must say with confidence that outside of the couples' parents, there was one guest whose joy couldn't be topped by any other, the matriarch of the family, Momma Barbara.

A couple months before Alyson and Ori announced their engagement, Barbara hinted that while bar mitzvahs and graduations were nice, she was growing tired of them and what she really wanted was a wedding in the family. She told just enough of us to be sure her desire would reach the now happy couple.

While Barbara's hope for Alyson and Ori became a reality, those of us who are sharp observers know that our leader's wish list isn't yet complete. I am sure the prospect of a great-grandchild in the near future sounds awfully good. But no pressure, Alyson.

My dear cousin and friend, you have done your part to show by example to the rest of us what it means to love. And we thank you. All of your family and all of your friends who joined you this weekend wish you and Ori a lifetime together full of peace, passion and prosperity.

And a special congratulation from this little cousin.