In Sickness and in Health

We didn't get a church wedding. Nor did we write our own vows. Over five years ago we got married by a civil servant in the 17th C. West-Indisch Huis, in the city centre of Amsterdam.

Friends spoke hilarious and historical words, the civil servant kept quiet. He only concluded the ceremony by performing the official marriage. There was one point he wanted to make though: "Never underestimate the significance of good health." In his long career he had performed numerous marriages in hospitals for terminally ill patients.

At the time, we considered it a touching story and decided to take his marital advice to heart. But I never came to understand the true meaning of "in Sickness and in Health" until now.

Kenji and I watched the rerun of the Royal Wedding on the BBC. Our hands with our wedding rings intertwined. When we heard the vows, we looked each other in the eye. "I'll do my utmost best" Kenji said. I didn't even have to say "Please don't die" this time.