"Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though t'were his own."
-Goethe

It’s been a week of high profile weddings. First there was the American wedding of Jenna and Henry in Crawford, Texas. It was a very tasteful event thoughtfully planned and executed with dignity.

Then we had the Royal wedding of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. As with all Royal weddings, it was steeped in tradition and executed with great pomp and circumstance.

Both events dominated the news. Today AOL enabled its members to see 101 pictures from the Royal wedding and 10 photographs from the American wedding.

Interesting and beautiful as both these events were, they pale in comparison to the genuine American wedding of Jackie Ross and Tom Romanoski.

The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving. Albert Einstein

There are some things in life that become a part of your heart and soul. It doesn’t happen often. It doesn't happen quickly. It doesn't happen without struggle, hard work and the generosity of others, but when it happens, it transforms your world giving your life meaning, opportunity and purpose.

Thanks to the generosity of kind-spirited people like my parents and a handful of hard working Holy Cross priests from Notre Dame, King’s College, my alma mater, was founded more than two generations ago for the sons of working class parents and World War II veterans who had hopes and dreams of a better life.  On this special evening, Kitch and I were making our way to the college to attend the thirty-seventh annual President’s Dinner.

From the moment we opened the door to the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, we heard the sounds of joyful conversation. Once inside the door, we were greeted by the smiling face of a man named Dan who cared for the rooms in the department where we worked all those years ago.