jueves, noviembre 25, 2021

La Boda de Carlota

El 30 de Octubre de 2021 se celebro el matrimonio de mi hija Carlota, en la ciudad de Edmond, Oklahoma.

Esa noche pronuncie unas palabras que comparto, como recuerdo de ese acontecimiento familiar tan importante.

Aunque las palabras fueron escritas en español, las tradule al ingles, considerando que la gran mayoria de los asistentes a la boda era personas de habla inglesa. 

Aca incluyo las dos versiones, y algunas fotografias.


En la boda de Carlota.

Si dijera que he esperado toda una vida por este momento, estaria simplemente repitiendo un lugar comun. Aun si todas las palabras ya estan dichas, es el amor lo que las haces diferentes, cuando queremos expresar nuestros sentimientos.

Mi hija Carlota, aquella chiquilla que llego a nuestras vidas en una noche de Abril de 1987, en medio de la brisa tropical del caribe, para llenar nuestras vidas de felicidad, se une esta noche en matrimonio a Christopher Lollar, el hombre que la conquisto y que la ama.

Quisiera tener todo el tiempo para repasar la vida de mi hija, especialmente los años en que vivimos juntos. Y juntos aprendimos cosas de la vida, porque es una realidad que Carlota tambien nos ha enseñado mucho, con su personalidad, dedicacion y caracter, que no la dejan nunca doblegarse ante las viscicitudes de la vida.

Parece que fue ayer cuando dormia sobre mi pecho, o cuando bailaba sobre mi regazo las canciones que a ambos nos gustaban.

Algunos momentos de su vida pasan como una pelicula por mi mente: el dia de su nacimiento, su bautizo, su primera comunion, la confirmacion, el anhelado dia del Prom, y su grado con todos los honores en la Universidad de Houston. Un paso a la vez.


Desde niña forjo su fuerte personalidad, y en la casa siempre fue guia y soporte para todos. Para mi ha sido verdadera amiga y calida compañia. Y por encima de todo, ha sido siempre mi asesora en las cosas mas importantes y trascendentales.

Nada puede expresar mejor como se siente mi corazon esta noche, como aquella vieja cancion que compartiamos cuando Carlota aun era La Nena de Papa..... “Butterfly Kisses” (Besos de Mariposa) de Bob Carlile. Su primera estrofa dice asi:

There's two things I know for sure:


She was sent here from heaven and she's daddy's little girl.
Hoy Carlota avanza un paso mas en su vida, quiza el mas importante hasta ahora y nosotros, sus padres y hermano, nos sentimos muy orgullosos y complacidos.

Continua la cancion:

 Precious butterfly,

Spread your wings and fly.
She'll change her name today.
She'll make a promise and I'll give her away.

Cierro mis ojos, e imagino a Carlota diciendo una y otra vez:

"Walk me down the aisle Daddy, it's just about time." ….

"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy don't cry...."

Chris, nosotros nos sentimos muy felices de que seas tu quien se una a nuestra hija en matrimonio. Sentimos un gran afecto por ti, y sabenos que eres la persona adecuada. En nosotros tienes una familia, que les desea lo mejor, y que sera siempre un punto de apoyo.

Es cierto que hemos esperado muchos años por este momento. Como padres nada nos hace mas felices que ver a nuestra hija levantar su propia familia.

Como dice la cancion:

With all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right To deserve a hug every morning and butterfly kisses at night.”

A Dios que siempre escucha mis oraciones, le pido hoy cuidar de Carlota y de Chris, asi como cuido siempre de nuestra familia.

Desde el cielo, 4 abuelitos nos miran con ternura: Evangelina y Jaime, Raquel e Ildefonso. Podemos verlos titilar en las noches claras, ellos son las estrellitas que nos iluminan cada dia, en donde quiera que estemos.

Me despido con esta hermosa frase, tambien de la cancion:

I couldn't ask God for more, this is what love is.
I know I gotta let her go, but I'll always remember
every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses at night...


Dios bendice a Carlota y a Chris.


At Charlotte's wedding.

If I said that I have waited a lifetime for this moment, I would simply be repeating a very common statement. But even if all the words have already been said thousands of times, it is true love that makes the difference.


With that said, I would like to say a few words tonight, from the bottom of my heart, to celebrate Charlotte and Chris.

Our daughter Carlota, the little girl who came into our lives one night in April 1987, in the midst of the tropical Caribbean breeze, to fill our hearts with happiness, is joining Christopher Lollar tonight in marriage, the man who conquered her and who loves her.

I wish I had all the time to review my daughter's life, especially the years we lived together, and together we learned things about life, because Charlotte has also taught us a lot, with her personality, dedication and character, which never let her bend to the challenges of life.

It seems like it was yesterday when she slept on my chest, or when she danced on my lap the songs that we both liked.

Some moments of her life pass like a movie through my mind: The day of her birth, her baptism, her first communion, the desired Prom night, and her graduation with all the honors, at the University of Houston. One step at a time.

Since she was a little child, she forged a strong and mature personality. At home she was always the guide and support for everyone. For me, she is been a truly friend and a warm companion, and last and foremost the best advisor when it comes to important and transcendental matters.


Nothing can better express how my heart feels tonight, like that old song we shared when Charlotte was still Daddy's Little Girl: "Butterfly Kisses" which beggins like this:

There's two things I know for sure:
She was sent here from heaven and she's daddy's little girl.

Today, Charlotte advances another step on the road of life, perhaps the most important so far. Her parents and her brother are very proud and pleased.


The song goes:

All the precious time
Like the wind, the years go by.
Precious butterfly,
Spread your wings and fly.
She'll change her name today.
She'll make a promise and I'll give her away.


If I close my eyes, I can see Charlotte saying over and over again, just like the song:

"Walk me down the aisle, Daddy-it's just about time." ….
"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy? ..... don't cry"


Chris, we are very happy that you are the man joining our daughter in life. We feel great affection and respect for you, and we know that you are the right person. You have found a place in our family, and we wish you both all the blessings and best wishes.

It is true that we have waited many years for this moment. As parents, nothing makes us happier than seeing our kids building their own family.

The song continues.....


With all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right, to deserve a hug every morning and butterfly kisses at night.


I am praying God to take care of Charlotte and Chris, just like he always does with our family.

From heaven, the souls of the grandparents are looking at us with tenderness: Evangelina and Jaime, Raquel and Ildefonso. We can see them twinkling on clear nights, like 4 little stars that illuminate the sky, anywhere we are.


I will end my words tonight with the last lines from that song:


I couldn't ask God for more, this is what love is.
I know I gotta let her go, but I'll always remember
every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses at night.


God bless Charlotte and Chris.





No hay comentarios.: