Ethan Lewis

Stephanie Rubin

What can I say about my great friend Ethan? At least, what can I say that can be printed in a family website… and won't get me in trouble with the DA's office?

I met Ethan (and Jon) at U-High in 11th grade. Ethan tells people he thought I was a total BS artist, telling outrageous tales of life in Bolivia--until he traveled with me to Bolivia and realized every story was true.

Ethan has been my friend, my buddy, my partner in crime for two decades. We've shared adventures (and some misadventures) from the Peruvian Presidential Palace to the steaming Bolivian jungles, from traveling around the American Heartland and Great Southwest in a borrowed van to running a two-thousand mile errand for his dad.

In the meantime Ethan has torn through dozens, if not hundreds of women, narrowly missed the altar, gone through a number of jobs, and finally settled into real estate where he has been known to do well from time to time. Visit his website at http://www.ethanlewis.com.

Although we occasionally drove each other nuts (we practically didn't speak for a year following our heartland/southwest road trip), we got along great. In fact, we became roommates after his aborted marriage attempt and my patricidal resignation, and lasted more than two years together until he bought a condo and I married Silvia.

We still call each other almost every day, and all too often several times a day. Fortunately, most of his former wishy-washy ways have been wishy-washed away, so we get along better than ever.

I'm not quite sure how to finish this paean without sounding like a weenie, so let me just end by saying: "Thanks for being my friend, Ethan. I love you, man." By the way, I'm not gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that, if that's the way you are, which I'm not. So, how 'bout them White Sox? World champs. Yep. Manly stuff, all that.

Ethan's married! I was privileged to be able to join Ethan and Stephanie on their special day at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida. The weather was truly spectacular -- a powerful storm front that created the most dramatic wedding backdrop I've ever seen. Not only was it visually stunning, it seemed so full of symbolism, as Ethan and Stephanie gamely and good-naturedly helped each other to get through the ceremony. Love did conquer the best (or worst) nature could throw at them. If they can face life the way they faced the storm, they will be truly blessed -- Mazel Tov!