The Voyage of Spectacle

Dearest Andy & Melissa,

Wishing you years of happiness and joy. So excited for both of you and sorry we could not attend your exotic and spectacular wedding. We await photos with alacrity. We raised a glass (or two) of Opus One 2001 in your honour tonight and hope we will be able to toast to your happiness with you soon.

Much love,
Darianna & Michael

We are thinking of you, half way around the world, and wishing we could be there to celebrate. We lifted a glass in your honor last night as we dined at Cal Tech and listened to a lecture on "the arrow of time". That sounds like a good metaphor for your lives together, as you encounter endless adventures over great distances. Much love, Geoff and Reba

Dear Melissa and Andrew,
I have sent a melancholy note to you via Melissa's e-mail.... It is selfishly melancholy because Barry and I did not attend your wonderful celebration.
Please know that we were thinking of you yesterday (and even on St. Patrick's Day night when the wedding was probably taking place Sri Lanka time).
You have our most sincere wishes for much happiness always!
xoxo Tink

Andy and Melissa

Congradulations on this special day! We wish you all the best in the future and wish you safe sailing during your continued advantures. Hope to see you again when you return to the USA.


Ken and Karen

Dear Melissa & Andy,
The Big Day has arrived! So happy for you both!! What a wonderful way to start your lives together...sailing around the world. I can only imagine what's next as you set sail on the journey of marriage. Wishing you a long, happy, loving, adventurous life together as husband and wife. God bless you on this and every day hereafter. Miss you and love you,
Kris and Gary
Phoenix, AZ

Dear Melissa and Andy:

John and I wish you a long and very happy life together. We know this week will be special and memorable and we look forward to celebrating with you in grand style when you return home.

Even after nearly 43 years of marriage, describing love and marriage is a challenge for me. So, I turned to a master to send you a wedding tome:

Love's Philosophy
by Percy Bysshe Shelley

The fountains mingle with the river,
And the rivers with the ocean;
The winds of heaven mix forever,
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one another's being mingle;--
Why not I with thine?

See the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven,
If it disdain'd its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea;--
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?


With much love,
Mary Anne Borovicka

Ahoy, there!
You have both been much on my mind as your wedding day approaches, and I deeply, madly wish that we could be there with you in body as well as in spirit. Please make sure someone takes lots of pictures, and come back ready to tell loads of stories. I hope that your entire celebration is everything you hope for, and I wish you many happy returns of the day. Huge hugs, toasts, and huzzahs are being beamed over from SoCal.
So excited and happy for you!
Lots of love, and on the 18th,
Bon Voyage,
Elizabeth

Dear Andy and Melissa,

Congratulations on your up and coming marriage. We wish you all the very best on the big day and hope the whole wedding event is wonderful. We look forward to seeing the photos and to catching up when you are back in Australia again.

Cheers

Chris and Sophie
Manly, Sydney

Andy and Melissa,

Congratulations to both of you. I wish I could be there, but I look forward to hearing about the event when you get back to this side of the earth. Have a great wedding celebration.

Ryan

My dear Andy & Melissa,
It would be a dream to actually celebrate your wedding day with you both, but I am not going to be able to do that. However, you have both been on my heart and mind for several months and I am so very pleased for you both. You have begun your lives together in a way that would be difficult for anyone to replicate so that is my first "Congratulations!" to you both. My second is that you are still in love enough to know you could get married now as I know how cramped a boat can feel when it seems like you are no longer in "paradise;" so that is my second "Congratulations!" And third, but most of all, you are both alive and well and planning more adventures I am quite certain. I love you both and could not be happier, or more inspired, thinking of what you have accomplished, lived, and will continue to do together for the rest of your lives. So, go off into the sunset, holding hands, and enjoying the celebration of a lifetime together on March 18, 2010.

With love,
Diane

PS-As long as I am here, there's a bed in Berkeley for you two!

Dear Melissa and Andy:
Just a note to let you know I'll be thinking of you on your special day. I know it will be beautiful, a beautiful memory. I do hope someone is taking photos for you, as Scott and I loved looking at our wedding pictures over the years...we always were so upbeat and happy when we closed the album!
And now, for some happy Smith family news: our older son, Nathan, became engaged in February, and they are to be married in May. I will be traveling back to take part. Our younger son, Trevor, will be cooking the canapes, etc., for the afternoon wedding. Take a look at what Trevor cooked for Nathan and Emily's engagement dinner: http://www.mangerverite.blogspot.com/
Wonderful memories for you and of your sailing instructor, Scott...
Love always,
Lynn Smith

Hey you two crazy kids! The wedding is just around the corner, eh? (too close to Canada up here...wearing off on me, eh? Dang Canadians beat us in hockey too:-) Anyway, I am sorry that I couldn't be spontaneous and hop on a plane to Colombo. After seeing that beautiful picture of Melissa with the sweet Sri Lankan outfit, it makes me even more regretful for not getting over there. I know that you guys are going to have the most amazing wedding! When I think about how this whole thing is going down, the only acceptable thing for me to say is, "YOU GUYS ROCK!". I wish you the very best with everything, now and forever! I'm very grateful that I was able to have met you both.

Dear Melissa and Andy-

Thank you so much for the invite, we truly wish we could join you. We know it's going to be an amazing wedding so take lots of pictures!

We wish you all the love and happiness in the world.

Love, Nicole and John

Kia Ora! Andy and Melissa,
Well, we have all come a long way since Fatu Hiva! Who would have known that brief encounter would have led to a wonderful and lasting friendship for the 4 of us? Some of our favorite Yachtie stories involve the crew of s/v Spectacle! We are looking forward to this wedding so much, and our other sailing buddies who cannot make it are looking forward to the pictures and the "after stories". We will see you in Sri Lanka very soon. Please save us an official printed invitation if you have any left. We show your Save the Date notice to everyone!
Love you,
Frank and Barb
s/v Destiny

Dear Melissa and Andy,

We wish you the most incredible of wedding days to remember the rest of your lives...and a life filled with joy, adventure, health friends, love and prosperity!

With our love,
Diana and Liana Harotian

Andy and Melissa,

I love you both dearly and am so sad I cannot celebrate with you in Sri Lanka. The wedding and all of the related events sound like so much fun. The entire experience will certainly be magical, unforgettable, and fabulous! I will be thinking of you during your wedding week and wishing you the best.

Love you,
Teresa

Melissa & Andy,

I feel so honored that you would include me in your wedding plans. I am so sorry I will not be able to make it. We (my fiance and I) I too am taking the big plunge, will be racing cars in Mexico that week. I hope you have a fantastic time and wish you both a happy and loving life together.

XXs,
Erin

Dear Melissa & Andy,
I wish we could be there to enjoy your special day. What an excellent adventure you two have been on. May all your days be good days together. Happy sailing and Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.
Best wishes and love always,
David & Sharon Wakefield. Cantua Creek, CA

"Poruwa." When we first heard of it, we would have nothing of it. "Poor You?" . . . "Wa!"

Then, when we pronounced it as a German might pronounce Spanish or Portugese, WE GOT IT. "Por" "uwa" (por uva) -- "by grape," in Spanish, or just "grape" in Portugese.

We don't know what happened to your wedding plans, but we understand the secret code word "Poruwa," and we wouldn't miss your Sri Lankan wine tasting, no matter how many weddings we have to skip.

See you in Galle in a few weeks.

Dear Melissa and Andy,

Thank you so much the extremely interesting (elephant dung paper?) and beautiful "Save the Date" notice and for inviting me to your wedding, which will probably be the biggest bash of 2010. I regret that I will be unable to join you on the big day but will be thinking of you all and wishing you both a happy and loving life together and that it will be as exciting as your trip around the world has been. I love it when good things happen to good people.

Love from your cousin, Ingrid

Melissa and Andy,

God bless you always. Congratulations, the wedding sounds like so much fun our hope is it will be all you want it to be.
We look forward to seeing you in the future, happy sailing.

Ed and Jeanne Parolini

I'm pleased to announce I have finally finalized my 3 week itinerary which includes your presumably splendid event in Galle. I must say, however, I'm a bit intimidated by these "Aussies" which you have forewarned us about and whom apparently are compelled to forewarn themselves. Please inform them that there are plenty of warnings to be presented from such an eclectic group.

Best regards, john

Dear Melissa and Andy,
We arrived home from 3 weeks on the Sunshine Coast to find our wedding invitation waiting for us. We are delighted to have been invited and gratefully accept. We are really looking forward to it -- and to meeting the array of guests -- should be quite an experience -- hope you have warned them about the Aussies!

PS -- the good ship Spectacle was A OK last we saw her.

Love Scott and Muriel Spencer

Melissa & Andy
We're sorry we can't make it but wanted to give you our congratulations on a marriage full of love and adventure! It was so great to see you both in Sept. May your day and yrs. be blessed always
love Jan & Dan

Andy and Melissa,

We are bummed that we can't make it to the wedding but we are excited for you anyway. We wish you both happiness or should I say continued happiness! You make a great team together. Together your the Beast!

Have a wonderful celebration!

Tom and Mary

Hey there Andy and Melissa! We're very sorry we won't be there. We know you'll have a wonderful time even without us. Congrats! Amy and Ross

Many heart felt regrets for not being able to attend your once in a lifetime event. I am thrilled to know so many are able to make the journey and share in your celebration.

Wishing you continued love and happiness,
Tamara
&
Chloe (aka Broke Back Doxie)

Hello Melissa and Andy!

Unfortunately I will not be able to celebrate with you in person, although I certainly will in spirit - I will be in San Juan, Argentina, singing.

Much love and I cannot WAIT to see the photos!

xoxoxoxoxox
Kathy

Melissa and Andy - CONGRATULATIOINS! MAZEL TOV!
I wish you many years of good health, love and laughter. I know your lives together will be a reflection of your love for each other as well as your love for adventure! May you always have smooth sailing !
Love,
Lois

Dear Melissa and Andy,

It's really hard to believe that it was over a year ago we were talking about your glorious wedding "idea" in Sri Lanka. While in Fiji, aboard the Spectacle, I remember you both putting your ceremony dreams together. Well, you have done it and it sounds amazing. I sincerely hope, with all my heart, that the week proves to be even more than your dreams. You are both such terrific individuals and as a couple I suspect the sky is the limit. Len and I wish we could be there and we join you in spirit.

Love,

Patty

Dear Melissa and Andy,

Thanks for including us in your wonderful wedding celebrations. We can' believe it's only six weeks away and look forward to our trip from Oz to Sri Lanka to see you both again and witness an awesome event.

Love to you both and enjoy the prepaations.
Loretta and John

Hi there!

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and your huge voyage around the globe - it must be very exciting on both fronts!

We will not be attending the wedding although I would have loved to visit the Sri Lanka. For now, I'll be staying home with the kiddies (ages 6 and 7 now). I appreciate you including us among the guests you've invited.

Have a wonderful day celebrating - and best wishes to both of you for the future!

Kathy & Joe

We have just received another beautiful wedding invitation in the mail. We're so excited about the trip to SL and can't wait to see you both!

xxx

Congratulations Andy and Melissa - we are so happy for you! Thank you for inviting us, and we're sorry that we won't be able to make it. Our warmest wishes for a beautiful, unforgettable wedding!

Unfortunately Ginny and I are not going to be able to make the wedding. We couldnt even come up with a plan to get one of us out there and still manage the flock of kids back home (BTW we had a 3rd in 2009). We wish you two the best of luck with the wedding and the balance of your travles. We will continue to live vicariously through your trip while we change diapers, warm bottles and clean boogers of the back window of the car.

We are so excited for you!! Sadly, we are not going to make it to Sri Lanka in March to see the festival of Andrew and Melissa in person but we'll be thinking of you both!! Hope your wedding is fabulous and that your life together is even better than your fabulous wedding.

Our baby is awesome and growing bigger by the day. She got her first tooth last weekend/

Melissa & Andy,
We have loved following your travels. Can't wait to see you in person again! Sorry we can't make Sri Lanka, but we will be thinking of you both. Congratulations and best of wishes!
--Christy & David

Thanks for the invitation and sorry we won't be able to make it. Just too far with 2 little kids. Sounds like an incredible adventure. I am sure it will be a beautiful wedding. Sorry to miss it. Kristi