I1, Lisa Birman2, take you3 The United States of America4, to be my lawful5 country6, to have and to hold,7 for better8 or for worse9, for richer10, for poorer11, in sickness and in health12, to love and to cherish13; from this day forward14 until death do us part15.
1 And when I say “I,” I am not referring to a theory. I am skin and blood and bones.
I am this particular package of thoughts and feelings. I am not to be messed with.
2 I may not have told you this. Lisa is a common name, I know, but mine is special.
3 I trust that you too are not a theory. I trust in your skin and blood and bones.
In your collection of thoughts and feelings. I would like to meet you. Now that we
are wed. 4 You used to be plural. Back in the day. They. Now you are single-minded, he or she.
It is necessary to choose. You are a workaholic. I am afraid of being your wife. 5 I hope you understand the delicacy of my position. I could be swept away at any moment.
For shoplifting. Or lying. I try not to do these things. I do not want to be stolen
from you. But it is important that you understand the possibility. 6 You are not my only love. This will never be monogamous. My first love is Australia.
I will not leave her. Not for you. I have also been seeing the Czech Republic. It
is becoming serious. You should know. Also there is France. A flirtation, but we understand
each other. 7 I hold you even when I am with another. 8 I do not need the world from you. 9 Only your arms. Lay down for me. 10 It's greedy, I know. One is supposed to have one love. It is supposed to be enough.
I am a cliché. It's not you, it's me. I would be like this even if I did not find
you lacking. 11 It must be said that neither of us is a prize. 12 We both have our problems. 13 I want you to know about me. What should I know about you? 14 Tell me a secret. 15 Something you've never told anyone.
