Vows

You remember, It all began with a theft of an air-conditioning

the compressor too

tears of sadness

coupled with tears of happiness

But on arrival you stole my heart

although

know that it already belonged to you.

I knew you loved me

when you wore those rock star jeans that flipped your world upside down

and they cost more than you would ever dream of paying.

And I loved you back with all of me,

every piece,

ever skin cell,

all my limbs,

the organs on the inside,

as there could be no other way for me to love you.

Before I would never…

But now I wear spandex and bike for miles and miles with you.

My world is better with you. My ceiling fans & chandeliers are hung, my bougainvillea is trimmed, my roof is patched, my canoe is paddled

I even love you 108 feet underwater,

and after 5 days of hiking dying of thirst when you refuse to filter perfectly good water,

blisters covering every part of my feet that you have carefully bandaged.

I love you and when it finally rains and we can shower outside in it I love you,

and I will love you on our safari in Africa and to the ends of this earth and back home again.

When you are not with me

I miss your smile

the wrinkles on your eyes,

your bright laugh your kindness,

the shelter of your arms wrapped around me.

These are my promises to you

I vow to love you and support you in this life

and in all of the other lives that you dream of

And we will dream of falling in love more each day

Growing together better

As your friend, lover, as the mother of our children

I vow to laugh with you

and enjoy our smiles, our tears, our wrinkles,

to never give up on us, no matter what

And we will change, life will. I look forward to it with you.

Our love is extraordinary

but personal and quiet and silent sometimes,

and obvious blaring that even the lady at the bagel place knew it.

Robin to me there is no other possible imaginable life.

I marry you today as my best friend.

The keeper of all of my secrets.

Even when everything else in this world is going wrong,

when I have the worst day of my life,

when they steal my air conditioner,

when I can’t quite dry my tears,

I know I will have you,

and you will have me.

Robin today I will marry you in front of our friends and family

and for the rest of our lives I am your loving wife.