The Whole Nine Years

Well, yesterday was Tara and my nine-year wedding anniversary. We didn't really celebrate it -- life has been consistently getting in the way. There are just too many things that we need to do to allow us to do the things we want to do.

We did take the kids out for some games and munchies at Lucky Strike, but that wasn't really an anniversary celebration. In fact, we weren't even thinking about our anniversary much. It was more of a consistently-appearing epiphany, a *DING* "it's your anniversary, stupid!" kind of moment, jumping up at odd times during the day.

So, to honor this momentous occasion, albeit a day late, I present to you the vows we made to each other on that day in June, nine years ago, standing outside the carriage house in Ann Arbor.

Tara Marie, I choose you
to be my companion, my partner, my lover.
I choose you to be my wife.

And to you, I make this vow:
I promise to love you.
I will be a pillar of strength in your times of sadness and trouble.
I will remember the love you hold for me when I feel anger or fear.

To you, I make this vow:
I promise to honor you.
I will hold you in the highest esteem in all situations.
I will support you in all your endeavors.

To you, I make this vow:
I promise to cherish you.
I will keep you in my heart at all times, whether we are together or apart.
I will let no other displace you in the vault of my heart.

Tara Marie, to you I make these vows.


Douglas Mitchell, I choose you
to be my companion, my partner, my lover.
I choose you to be my husband.

And to you, I make this vow:
I promise to love you.
I will be a pillar of strength in your times of sadness and trouble.
I will remember the love you hold for me when I feel anger or fear.

To you, I make this vow:
I promise to honor you.
I will hold you in the highest esteem in all situations.
I will support you in all your endeavors.

To you, I make this vow:
I promise to cherish you.
I will keep you in my heart at all times, whether we are together or apart.
I will let no other displace you in the vault of my heart.

Douglas Mitchell, to you I make these vows.

I love you.