Queen Sugar—Vi’s Marriage Vows and Angela’s Love Note to Alvin

On a recent episode of Queen Sugar (season 3, episode 13), a TV drama series about an African-American family who owns a sugar cane farm in Louisiana, the character, Violet Bordelon, aka Vi (played by Tina Lifford) recites her marriage vows to her man, Hollinsworth Desonier, aka Hollywood (played by Omar Dorsey) in their private wedding ceremony. 

Vi, the aunt and matriarch of the Bordelons, begins her vows with her lover’s full name, “Hollinsworth Desonier,” followed by a beautiful set of words that I’d like to quote and share, while also dedicating these words to my beautiful husband and the love of my life, Alvin Johnson Sr, in celebration of our 32nd wedding anniversary this month. I also added some of my own words.

“I Love You [Slim]

From a well so deep that I could dig a dozen years and not get to the mystery of it. 

Our love just feels good.

[And even when it doesn’t, we both know that our love is divine. It is true. It is eternal.]

But it’s also a love that defies every bit of common sense that I have spent a lifetime learning. [And now, unlearning.]

But here [with you, My Chocolate] is where I [still] want to be. 

[Slim] you are good, kind, safe and so perfectly flawed that even your jagged parts fit mine just right. 

On your worst day your spirit flies so high that it makes everything around you better. 

[Your light shines bright like the sun. Your jubilance for God is contagious and admirable. Your love and commitment to me, to your children, to your family is unwavering.]

So I commit to you. 

To us. 

[To our children, Aléa, Alvin Jr. and Alexander. And to our grands, Miquel and Mathew.]

And I have learned the difference between a love that liberates and a love that feels like it’s always been free. 

I choose freedom. 

I choose love. 

I choose you.”

Happy 32nd Wedding Anniversary Hon~

(ILYMTMTM)

Queen Sugar airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network and is one of my favorite TV shows!

Learn more about the show or view episodes here—> http://www.oprah.com/app/queen-sugar.html. For a behind the scenes look at episode 3.13 click on the following link: https://youtu.be/a34GuZW2L60.

By Angela Braxton-Johnson