My Son is Getting Married on Saturday

In three days, my son Charlie will marry his darling Thaís.  I couldn’t be happier--except that I’m a little sad. 

As soon as Charlie met this wonderful girl, I knew that my days as the most important woman on his planet were numbered. It feels a bit like the empty nest syndrome, now that my guy has moved on to become her guy.

His beautiful bride is Brazilian so, although her English is nearly perfect, he coos to her in Portuguese. When we drive together, I am now the mother-in-law in the back seat. My goal is to avoid being the annoying mother-in-law in the back seat.

Charlie and I have been through a lot in his 32 years.  We’ve traveled together to all seven continents, and amassed a mountain of memories. 

My favorite adventure with Charlie happened in the Galapagos Islands when he was twelve years old. On a perfect shiny afternoon, we abandoned ship to go snorkeling. We were holding hands as we swam along, when a pod of sea lions arrived and swirled around us.  They swept between our legs and popped up in front of our face masks, then began the dance again for nearly ten minutes.

The sweetest sound I have ever heard was my son squealing with joy through his snorkel.

Charlie has somehow always known how to protect a mother who rarely admits that she needs it.  I have tender memories of watching movies together when Charlie was small.  He knew that I hated violence, so when a scary scene was about to happen, even in a cartoon, he would slide his little hand under my glasses to shield me from the bad guys. Charlie remains the guy who protects me when life gets too scary.

This Saturday, on the lake where we live, Charlie and Thaís will be married, as a flotilla of boats carrying their loved ones celebrate their happiness.

If I didn’t love his brilliant bride so much, I’m not sure that I could stand on the shore and willingly give him away. 

But I do and I will.

Eu te amo, kiddo!