Ernest Loves Fatima

The whole of my life
Has been preparation for the moment when I became your husband

Every mistake I ever made
Was a learning experience so I would know how to do the right thing for you

Every pain I ever felt
Has shown me the truth of agony
And taught me what not to bring into your life

The things I have done right in my life
Have given me the confident knowledge
That I
Can do right
By you

My gratefulness to God
For each sunrise and each sweet breath of air
For my mother and father
And for my friends and education
Has taught me to recognize the good in my life
I am now prepared to appreciate the blessing that is you

I love you, Fatima
I thank you for being my wife


(One of my gym rat buddies got married this past weekend. This both copies and paraphrases what he told his new bride. He got the gift, but his fancy words makin it hard for the rest of us. Still, I wish them the best)