Thank you, Belinda.
I know my vows sound disjointed and rambling, but I wrote them from my heart and then just couldn't bear to "edit" them -- I have to be so precise in what I say and write as part of my career, that when it came right down to it, I wanted my vows to be as if I was just talking to Howard from my heart, and I just couldn't bring myself to "refine" them from the first draft, so that is what you heard -- "draft vows"! LOL!
And then, at our rehearsal, we didn't even say the vows, but I was sobbing during the exchange of rings wording that I'd written, and I knew there was no way I'd make it through the vows I wrote for Howard. So, during the ceremony, when I started to lose my composure during the vows, I tried to pull myself together and I look so silly in the video taking deep breaths before each line and looking down and then up again.
I'd given Kevin a copy in case I couldn't get through them, so he could have me repeat after him, but when it came right down to it, I really wanted to get through them for Howard's sake. Looking in his eyes while he heard what I wanted to say to him was the most wonderful moment! And we were both so happy (though not surprised) that there were so many similarities in the vows we wrote for each other.
I loved the part where he talked about being together and being apart. Especially today, that is such a poignant memory -- after 11 days together, it is so hard to be apart today. Fortunately, my car is still in the shop after my accident a few days before we left for Orlando, so Howard drove me to work this morning -- I am so glad to have had those extra 20 minutes with him.

Yes, I AM that selfish!
