Catfish, not cabbage

On Friday night I watched the movie Juno, and even though it was the second time I had seen it, I was still struck by how much I liked it. Not everyone is a fan, maybe due to the the subject matter (spoiler: teen pregnancy!) or the quirky dialog (Sample: "That ain't no etch-a-sketch. This is one doodle that can't be un-did, homeskillet."), but I think it's a really cute film. The main character is a witty, eccentric girl who dates a sweet, if a little strange boy named Paulie. They're both a little odd compared to typical high school characters, as Juno describes, "I guess normalcy isn't really our style." but despite their quirks (or maybe because of them) I found them really endearing.

I bring all of this up as part of a round-about segue to last weekend's event. Last Friday I went down to Florida for my cousin Geoffrey's wedding. Not unlike the Juno characters, he has always "marched to the beat of his own drummer" (in a good way!), so it was fitting that the ceremony was tailored to fit Geoff and his bride Kaitlyn. They aren't big fans of many of the standard wedding traditions, so they decided to pick and choose to design the perfect event for them. Kaitlyn's "must haves" were photography and a big beautiful gown, while Geoff's desires centered more around keeping everything low key, and avoiding a "big to-do". It was a lovely ceremony, held on the shore of The Edison House. It was filled with giggles (just because it's a serious commitment, doesn't mean you have to act serious!), family, and the bride's favorite color: orange.

Perhaps the most unique part of the wedding (besides the groom wearing earrings made from buttons from his bride's gown) were the words they spoke to each other during the ceremony. They had traditional vows, but following that, Dakota (our second cousin, and officiant extraordinaire) lead the couple in reciting a string of sentiments beginning with "You are my catfish". Some of us...ok, maybe just me, thought she said "cabbage" which made only slightly less sense. But I asked my cousin Ingrid about it later, and she explained the reason behind the vows Geoff and Kaitlyn created. Apparently, when ready to mate, female catfish make a nest and wait for the male catfish to swim by. They travel past her in large fast swimming groups, and somehow she finds a male that catches her eye. She follows him and they swim together, through river currents and twists and turns. Finally, after traveling together through the stream, they settle back in the nest she created. But most importantly, they mate for life.

It may not be the typical wedding narrative, but I think it is a sweet thought. It reminds me of the opening song from Juno, the lyrics of which serve as a lovely tribute to the new couple.

All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar

If I was a flower growing wild and free

All I'd want is you to be my sweet honey bee.

And if I was a tree growing tall and green

All I'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves.

All I want is you, will you be my bride

Take me by the hand and stand by my side

All I want is you, will you stay with me?

Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

If you were a river in the mountains tall,

The rumble of your water would be my call.

If you were the winter, I know I'd be the snow

Just as long as you were with me, when the cold winds blow.

All I want is you, will you be my bride
Take me by the hand and stand by my side
All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

If you were a wink, I'd be a nod

If you were a seed, well I'd be a pod.

If you were the floor, I'd wanna be the rug

And if you were a kiss, I know I'd be a hug

All I want is you, will you be my bride

Take me by the hand and stand by my side

All I want is you, will you stay with me?

Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

If you were the wood, I'd be the fire.

If you were the love, I'd be the desire.

If you were a castle, I'd be your moat,

And if you were an ocean, I'd learn to float.

All I want is you, will you be my bride

Take me by the hand and stand by my side

All I want is you, will you stay with me?

Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

Congratulations Kaitlyn and Geoff. And as Juno would say, I hope you are always the cheese to each other's macaroni.