Speech by Jodi Miller

Speech Type: Maid of honour/Best woman
Speech Creator: Jodi Miller
Speech Date: May 2001
I have been friends with Paul and Cindy for over a decade. Over the years, they have taught me the valuable lesson that friendship is the most important thing next to family. We have supported each other through good times and bad. Since today is a happy event, I will focus on some of the good times.

I met Paul through mutual friends when we lived in residence at The University of Windsor. At that time Paul was just ending his "Scary" stage, you know the look: all black, long flowing coats and he would do these swooping dance moves at an alternative night club in Windsor called "Changes". Paul and I took a couple of creative writing classes together and we would often sit beside one another. In his younger years, he reminded me of Calvin from the Calvin and Hobs. You know the short, little, obnoxious funny looking child from the comic strip? Now, I am not saying that Paul is funny looking, nor is he short, but he has the same overactive imagination. He can think of ways of saying things without directly saying them with words. For example: in creative writing class, if Paul found no enjoyment in someone's writing, rather than critique it he would turn my pen into a thundering race car that would soar around my desk, zoom across my note book and smash headlong into my eraser, projecting it across the room, getting me in trouble while he just sat there and looked smart.

I met Cindy while working at The Windsor Feminist Theatre. I remember standing in the wings and watching Cindy perform under the bright glow of the house lights. Not only is Cindy a talented performer and musician, but also she can write. The beauty of her writing is her ability to make astute intellectual social comments in one moment and then in the next bring down the house with her odd quirky sense of humour. Like Paul, she also uses her humour to make a point. For example, it was Thanksgiving and I had made my first turkey for a potluck at Cindy's apartment. So, as usual, I was running late. But, rather then call me, Cindy and her friends decided to come over to my apartment with kitchen utensils and fake an army rebellion where they kidnapped the turkey and liberated it. But, what she didn't know was the reason why I was late. You see, my boyfriend and I were fighting because HE left the turkey in the oven all night and all day and I was worried about food poisoning. So, Cindy and the liberators, rescued and feasted upon the turkey and while he and I watched and felt guilty. We actually felt so bad, that we decided to tell them why we were late, after they ate the entire bird.

Inevitably, all people must leave University and Paul, Cindy and I were no exception. First Paul moved to Toronto, and what I don't understand how he in this huge city landed himself an apartment directly across the hallway from mine. (I still say I found the building first.) Then to my surprise Cindy moved here and believe you me, the day she packed up and left Windsor for Toronto was the day I knew she truly loved Paul because Cindy hates big cities.

As a couple, Cindy and Paul remind me of Darhma and Greg-the perfect balance between corporate conservative and left wing. Paul grounds Cindy with the important conservative and traditional values that she might otherwise reject and Cindy, keeps Paul from becoming, no offence, extremely boring.

Now, please raise your glasses in a toast to Cindy and Paul: To love, laughter, quirkiness, intellectual banter and of course, may they live happily ever after.