The Cowboy & His Mermaid 🐎🧜‍♀️

48 Years of Love: A Cowboy and His Sailor Gal 🐎⛵

Forty-eight years ago, a cowboy married a sailor gal, and together, they’ve lived their “happily ever after” through both the good times and the bad.

Charles was a cowboy, hired—along with his horse and dog—to round up cattle. He was also a bull rider and a part-time school bus driver and athletic director at the junior high school in Cambria, CA.

Cindy, on the other hand, spent her childhood partly on land and partly on the open sea. She grew up sailing on a beautiful 42-foot schooner that her father built by hand in their backyard. She and her four siblings shared countless adventures on that boat. At the time she met Charles, she was working as a waitress at the Chuckwagon Café.

Their love story began in the most unexpected way. One day, Cindy’s little brother was being stuffed into a locker after aggravating someone much bigger than him. As she arrived to pick up her younger siblings from school, she caught wind of the situation. Rushing in to help, she pushed through a crowd of cheering students and shouted, “Who’s in charge here?”

Charles proudly stepped forward and said, “I am.”

She demanded to know why he was allowing this to happen. Calmly, Charles explained that, in this special circumstance, her brother was learning a valuable lesson and that he was keeping an eye on things. From that moment on, Charles was smitten. Cindy, however, found the bus driver to be quite an interesting character.

And thus, their lifetime together began.

Since Cindy worked at the Chuckwagon Café, Charles and his cowboy buddies made a habit of sitting in her section after long days on the ranch. Cindy protested serving them because Charles had a mischievous way of flirting—he would leave fake mice under the butter dish or play pranks with her tips. His favorite? Leaving her tip inside a water glass turned upside down on the table, forcing her to carefully slide it off into a bucket if she wanted her money. “But at least he was a good tipper,” Cindy would later admit with a smile.

Over time, the prankster cowboy became her hero—her prince charming. Or, as she lovingly called him, her “Hercules.”

They shared many horseback rides together, and Charles even had his own version of the "Pony Express." He would send Cindy love notes, delivered by his little brother on a pony, who would race to Cindy’s porch and toss them—occasionally breaking a window in the process.

A year later, Charles proposed with a simple copper ring he had made himself. It happened at one of their favorite spots—what they called “The Top of the World.” His reasoning? “We knew what we wanted in life, so why wait?” Later, when finances allowed, he got her a real ring, but she still keeps that copper one.

They married in 1976 at the ages of 22 and 19. On her wedding day, Cindy came down with the measles. Her soon-to-be mother-in-law stepped in, helping her with makeup and getting her ready. Despite feeling sick, Cindy beamed with happiness and always spoke about how much she loved her wedding day.

The whole small town came out to celebrate them. The schoolgirls' choir sang, the local florist gifted them flowers, and the fire department—where Charles volunteered—created an archway of fire engines for them to depart under. It was a simple, small-town wedding, but it was the start of something truly extraordinary.

Together, they built a beautiful life in Montana, raising five children and welcoming 13 grandchildren. They’ve endured pain and loss but have also experienced immense joy and countless blessings. Through every season, they’ve remained by each other’s side, always striving to bring their challenges and triumphs back to the Lord.

Now, Charles enjoys driving Cindy around the ranch in his golf cart, Herby. He’s the ultimate handyman, capable of building just about anything, and one of his love languages is sharing his famous homemade jerky and smoked cheese. If you visit Charles, you’ll always find food, laughter, and a well-timed joke.

Cindy, however, is now fading due to Alzheimer's. She no longer remembers her children, and much of her independence has been lost. But some things remain—her laughter and her love for music. Whenever a beat comes on, she still taps her toes and claps her hands, lost in the rhythm.

Charles cares for her with the deepest devotion. The love and loyalty he shows her is nothing short of inspiring. I once told him, “You are incredible for how you take care of her.” He looked at me with sincere eyes and humbly replied, “No, I am not incredible. I am just being the husband I’m supposed to be.”

A love like theirs—a marriage like theirs—is rare and deserves to be honored.

And I am so proud to call them my parents. They are, without a doubt, one of the cutest couples I have ever met. ❤️🤠⚓