Marriage vows between Kevin and Rebecca – Oct. 2, 1999
I vow to protect you from all enemies of your passion.
When your eyes rush to the horizon, I vow to watch your footing.
I vow not to let our days stack up like dishes, compact and uniform, but rather like well-chewed artichoke leaves flung with gratitude in a gay heap.
I vow to know the magic of your mind, and to make mine known to you, unbidden.
I vow to be game when you are more adventuresome than I, and patient when you are less so. When you must, I will see you off to go alone. But together, I vow to forever go with you where we haven't gone before.
I vow to nurture your gentleness and protect your quirkiness and help you emerge forever as yourself.
I vow to be attentive to your knees.
I vow to swoop down on each lesser thought or feeling with the keen unflinching quick of the instinct that first brought me close to you.
I vow to endure all dangers with you, and to protect you.
I vow in my closeness to you, never to excuse, never to defend, any estrangement from life in the world around us.
With this ring I encircle you. I vow to be honest and faithful and to be naked before you, for the rest of my life.