Samantha’s wedding isn’t until October but Kevin Rudd, father of the bride, is already working on his toast.

He scribbles ideas in a journal as they flicker in his brain: sweet father-daughter moments, questions to puzzle through. Which songs did Sam and I sing on car rides to the College of Charleston? What was the funny thing that happened on our trip to Piney Point?

Ten years ago, Kevin would have delivered a pitch-perfect toast. A prominent investment banker and public speaker, he would have nailed it. No stage was too big, no microphone too intimidating.

But today, at age 63, he’s worried. Will he get the words out without jumbling them up?