http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/mt2127/28600 Excitement is rising!  In just a few weeks I'm off to Rio De Janeiro to be in a wedding.  I still can't believe how lucky I am to not only have this great opportunity to see Rio as well as Sao Paolo for three weeks, but to have such great relationships with two wonderful Brazilian kids!  Ten years ago and for only 5 months I was host mom for Bernardo Tavares.  I can say unequivocally that I loved him the minute I met him!  Some people just click right away, and our five months time together was way too short.  However, he promised me that I could come to his wedding.  Little did I know that he meant I would be IN the wedding.  Aren't cultural differences great?  Apparently, in Brazil, instead of bridesmaids and groomsmen the Bride and Groom choose mature adults to be marriage advisers, 'padrones' or god-parents, for their marriage!  What a great idea.  I'm lucky enough to have a Brazilian son who still loves me even after 10 years. As an extra bonus, I have another Brazilian son, Felipe Souza, (also completely wonderful) who was concerned about me traveling alone so he is going along as well.  We'll meet up in Sao Paolo, travel to Rio together, and the two boys will get to meet for the first time as well.  Some people are blessed with family and others are blessed with choosing their family.  Being loved and appreciated by other people's children is a great joy in my life. You can let Bernardo and Lu know you are happy about their July wedding by emailing lucibabo@yahoo.com.br Thanks!  Margo  mtyree@bak.rr.com   Excitement is rising!  In just a few weeks I'm off to Rio De Janeiro to be in a wedding.  I still can't believe how lucky I am to not only have this great opportunity to see Rio as well as Sao Paolo for three weeks, but to have such great relationships with two wonderful Brazilian kids!  Ten years ago and for only 5 months I was host mom for Bernardo Tavares.  I can say unequivocally that I loved him the minute I met him!  Some people just click right away, and our five months time together was way too short.  However, he promised me that I could come to his wedding.  Little did I know that he meant I would be IN the wedding.  Aren't cultural differences great?  Apparently, in Brazil, instead of bridesmaids and groomsmen the Bride and Groom choose mature adults to be marriage advisers, 'padrones' or god-parents, for their marriage!  What a great idea.  I'm lucky enough to have a Brazilian son who still loves me even after 10 years. As an extra bonus, I have another Brazilian son, Felipe Souza, (also completely wonderful) who was concerned about me traveling alone so he is going along as well.  We'll meet up in Sao Paolo, travel to Rio together, and the two boys will get to meet for the first time as well.  Some people are blessed with family and others are blessed with choosing their family.  Being loved and appreciated by other people's children is a great joy in my life. You can let Bernardo and Lu know you are happy about their July wedding by emailing lucibabo@yahoo.com.br Thanks!  Margo  mtyree@bak.rr.com   en-us Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:10:47 PDT