Armelle/Violet: We continue the speeches with Annie, Arnoud's mother :

Dear Gaia and Arnoud,

"Mom, would you like to speak at the wedding?"

My first reaction was, I confess, a bit hesitant.

What to say at such a moment?

How not to feel overwhelmed by emotion?

What more could you wish for ... than ... all the happiness you can get, sprinkled with fantasy and wisdom!

And then I finally accepted.

Because the word of the parents carries with it the word of the origins and of ancient dreams.

Because these family stories and myths can continue to influence the future!

And that a wedding ceremony is therefore an ideal moment to bring back memories full of color, humor and positive energy. The forces of life!

Gaia, I have therefore chosen to offer you a small portrait of Arnoud in his early youth.

Arnoud ............. Arnoud!

When you were born, just like your sister Armelle, you received as a gift the heritage of two very different languages: from Joris, your father: Dutch, and from myself: French.

But also, and this is no small thing, the heritage of various origins sometimes shaken by the movements of History.

This is probably why you want to travel beyond borders.

And your ease in speaking, among other languages, English and Italian!

As a child, you enjoyed: skating on ice and asphalt, sailing in Brittany and the Netherlands, inventing funny machines with Legos, studying classical dance...

Oh yes! also... to heckle and share secrets with Armelle and your friends!

With Joris, your dad : swimming, learning diabolo, playing chess, launching kites, in the blue and the wind, on the beaches or in the dunes, learning about computers and the piano...

Do you remember that you were for a long time the smallest in the class?

In the "land of the giants" (the north of the Netherlands) we were a bit worried.

While in the "Gallo-Breton" country (between Rennes and Saint Malo) one was reassured by saying:

"What is small is nice. He has all the time to be big".

And that, indeed, did not prevent you, well before your ten years, to leave for the adventure!

Two examples:

During a Queen's party in Amsterdam, you got lost in the Vondelpark.

You then approached some policemen and, installed in their guardhouse, you waited for us by tasting a sandwich in their company!

In Paris, you had escaped alone to explore the stairs of the Eiffel Tower.

Panic!

When we found you, you reassured us and we felt a little confused for having worried!

In fact, you were going at your own pace!

And over the years, I have trained myself to be stoic by waiting for you at our appointments!

Underneath your apparent nonchalance and your desire to experiment and enjoy life, was hidden a demand for perfection.

A mixture of genres that could sometimes give the paradoxical impression of a certain slowness!

Or the opposite?!

You still love to eat pancakes: Dutch "pannekoeken",

Breton pancakes and ... Gaia's pancakes!

Gourmet and gourmand, you invented, as a child, audacious mixtures that you savored with great pleasure!

Loving the little pleasures of life, and hating the weight of stress, you did everything possible to make yourself available when needed.

Shall I mention your concern for elegance?

From your bow ties, and ... the aprons you wore at family dinners in Holland or Brittany?

The choice of your costume for this ceremony is the result of a very long reflection shared in time and space!

Dearest Gaia and Arnoud,

Finally, Gaia and Arnoud, I would like to evoke the memory of two first meetings with you, at the time of your "young" relationship.

Gaia, almost ten years ago, you met a rather turbulent family group, represented by three generations, in a Dutch Pannekoekehuis and its noisy atmosphere.

A very informal introduction!

Your immersion was a success: festive, joyful, obvious.

Another time I remember an appointment with Joris and me in a Turkish restaurant in the Pijp district. And an image of you that I strongly remember.

You were walking towards us, slowly emerging from the night, happy to be together, smiling and peaceful.

Your decision to formalize your love through marriage, in the presence of relatives from all walks of life, lets me imagine new adventures, rich in emotions and beautiful memories, in the company of Ravi and Luna!

It is time to wish you.....

- also on behalf of those who could not be with you on this day -

infinite joy together, today and in the future!

Annie (Saturday, May 27, 2023)