Twenty-two years ago, today, a beautiful and smart woman named Tonia, said yes to my proposal and agreed to marry me. I was nothing special. But, she said yes. And, two decades later, we are still together. I often think if I had to do it over, would I bypass all others and take her hand again? So, I dedicate these lines to my fine wine.

So, today is our special day
But, before I pay
I must make my case
And declare in this limited space
That if I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

You say,
“It’s been 22 years, and you are not tired of me?”
Naw, girl, we’re shooting for fifty
Don’t drift on me
You see
To me, fifty is just the beginning
Like the bottom of the first inning
We still have a lot of game to play
Maybe we would do it on a different day
But, if I had to do it all over, yes way
I would take your hand and marry you again

Though we add year after year
Fear not
We won’t let the tears drop
From our eyes
Because our love is ever-growing
Like the Dow in a bull market
Our stock will always rise.
So, if I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

“Why is that my dear man?”
Let me continue to unfold my plan.
Maybe it’s because of your beautifully painted nails
Or, your humor in telling your family tales
But, it could be your smooth, honey-brown skin
Or, your coy grin.
All I know is that if I had to do it over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

It could be your simple taste
Or, it could be your beautiful face
Could it be your rising at dawn
Or, your still satisfying fawns?
All I know is, if I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

I think it might be the way you inspire me to be better than I am
Or, how much you love, cherish, and care for our fam
Or, that for Thanksgiving, you let me cook the yams
I don’t know.
But, I do know, if I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

Could it be your sincere desire to be who God designed you to be
You know, Battistelli’s: Free to Be Me
I think it might be the way you flee
The fake facades and meaningless chats
That only leads to talking about weather
Or, empty this and that
I know this if I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

I think it might be your thirst for education
Or, your disdain of debt and inflation
Or, your longing for deeper conversation
Or, it could be that you dropped your pride and worked at the gas station
Or, that you are part of the Pepsi nation
But, if I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

Maybe it’s the way our chair has become your chair
It’s not fair
That I have to fight to live in my lair
I don’t care
Girl, we are a pair
So, If I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

I believe it is the way you seek God’s face
Live in his amazing grace
Get your worship on in any place
Or, the way you gently tell me that God doesn’t like the pace of my race
I choose D, all of the above
I look back and see the growth of our love
So, yeah, if I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

So, it’s not anything your wear or do
It’s because God made you to be you
That’s why you’re still beautiful
It’s not the hair, the shoes, or your lovely looks
But, I think it’s the Jesus in you that took me and hooked me
So, Tonia, if I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

So, 22 years later, we are still together
Like birds of a feather
Robust, strong and sturdy like Saddleback Leather
As a result, I hope people would see our relationship as an authentic bellwether
So, I am looking forward to the next 22 to be so much better
Because, if I had to do it all over, I would take your hand and marry you again.

Happy Anniversary, Sweets

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