EDITED Arielle, my love, my friend. When we met, you were ready to dash off across the Western states in your RV, single and free. I was not exactly part of the plan. Three weeks later things changed a bit on that fateful Sunday when you proclaimed to me, “I can’t leave this.” My heart rejoiced because I was already imagining a life with you. Arielle, you make me feel joy I’ve never felt before. You make me be joy that I have never been before. My life, my view, my experience, all of them have been transformed as I sit back in awe of how you inspire and move me. These vows I am about to tell you are not really new. I’ve been making them since the day we met. This moment is actually to say that I meant every word of it. I vow that our love and our care will always come first for me. I vow that I will always work to be more patient. I know that I struggle with this, but you inspire me so much to find patience in myself that I did not know existed. I vow to you that you will be before me in my heart. Always. Surprisingly to the past selfish me, this vow will be easy. In many ways the very reason we are here today is because you have given me this. After decades of taking care of Dave first, now I care for nothing more than to take care of Arielle. It’s inspiring and beautiful in a way that I didn’t know was possible before you. Most importantly, I vow to take you as you. I choose you. I stand by you, I walk with you, I respect and honor you, and I believe in you. I ask you to only be the heart that you have inside, for that is the beauty that holds me enthralled. For that I vow to give you everything I have, my time, my actions, my heart, my passion, my life. “I love you” has new meaning now. Before today, “I love you” meant, “I love you now, who you are in this moment.” But after this day it is simpler. After this day it will simply just mean “I love *you*” The eternal, timeless *you* On that fateful Sunday two years ago I think you were beginning to touch on something far bigger than we realized at the time. Arielle, “I can’t leave this” - I will never be able to leave this, and I will never want to. You have all of me. That is my vow. RING THING Arielle, this is a ridiculous diamond ring. It’s silly, and it’s a social construct that we spend so much money on such frivolty. And that’s exactly why I bought this ring for you. To show you that there is no bound to what I will do or give to see just a smile on your face. FULL Arielle, my love, my friend. When we met, you were ready to dash off across the Western US in your RV, single and free. You had no interest in starting a relationship, and you were ready to roll. Three weeks later things changed a bit on that fateful Sunday when you proclaimed to me, “I can’t leave this.” My heart rejoiced because I was already imagining a life with you. Now, two years later, my imaginings have become my dreams, and my dreams have become true. Arielle, you make me feel joy I’ve never felt before. You make me be joy that I have never been before. My life, my view, my experience, all of them have been transformed as I sit back in awe of how you inspire and move me. And for all this, I choose you. I choose you with my heart, my life, my actions. I will risk everything from now on. I am “all in.” And so we are here, to formalize what you and I have known for some time. Part of this is to make some vows to you. These vows today are not really new. I’ve been making them since the day we met. Since the day we began our journey in love. This moment is to say that I meant every word of it. And I will continue to mean every word of it. “I love you” has new meaning now. Before this day, “I love you” meant, “I love you now, in this moment. I love the you that you are right now.” But after this day it is simpler. After this day it will finally just mean “I love *you*” So, my promises to you, Arielle: I vow that I will support you in every way I can find. Maybe sometimes it will be hard to know the right action to take, but you can know that my intent is to always support you. If I spend my life learning how to hold you up, I will have lived a great life. I will try to wake up early in the morning with you. It’s getting better, right? I will not hesitate. Or if I do, I will know that this is my failing, and one that can only be repaid through even more love and more tenderness. I will not be impatient. Okay, some people here just might know me well enough to know this one is going to be hard for me. I mean, we’re looking at like 50 years or so, right? I will sometimes be impatient. But I will see it as my shortcoming, and will overcome that impatience with love and support. I will not be selfish. Anymore. This one will be easy. In many ways the very reason we are here today is because you have given me this. After decades of taking care of Dave, now I care for nothing more than to take care of Arielle. It’s inspiring and beautiful in a way that I didn’t know was possible before you. Arielle, You are my friend, my lover, my inspiration, my treasure, my discovery partner, and my discovery. Today - I vow to you this, most of all: I take you as you. I ask you to only be the heart that you have inside, for that is the beauty that holds me enthralled with every step you take with me. Now when you hear me say “I love you” you can know that it means that I will always love you. On that fateful Sunday I think you were beginning to touch on something far bigger than we realized at the time. Arielle, “I can’t leave this” - I will never be able to leave this, and I will never want to. You have all of me. That is my vow.