A vegetarian ... Really?

One year ago, my teenage son returned from a month away at camp and declared he was now a vegetarian. My emotions went crazy. Where did I go wrong? How did this happen? How did my adventurous eater, my son who shared jerky snacks with me, my son who kept a running list of "foods for dad to make," suddenly come out and declare he no longer wanted to eat meat?  I didn't know how to react. What will I cook now?

Ok, I thought. Maybe he means no red meat. I began to panic as I questioned his limits, going through some of his alleged favorite dishes. 

Barbecued Brisket? "No"

Grilled rotisserie chicken? "No"
Crab legs? "No"

Bacon hasselback potatoes?  "Sure, but without the bacon."

No bacon? I had to be alone.  I needed time to think and reflect on this news.  Were there signs that I missed in his upbringing.  I went back to look at his "foods for dad to make" list -- mujadara; polenta; tomato bisque; corn chowder; baba ganouj; rosa sauce; homemade ranch dressing.  Almost everything on the list was a success, but was he trying to tell me something?

Is it possible this is not a choice?  Is it possible he was really born this way?  Maybe I just have to let him be his own person, and accept him for who he is.  I guess it is OK if he really is a vegetarian.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.