I got a really nice surprise yesterday. It turns out that before she was my favorite bald chick, my mother was this really cute twenty-something 70s girl who wore crochet tops and checkered pants. I got this photo she sent me when I was almost 3, and Ill post it here whenever I get it scanned.
On this day after a huge family holiday, I owe her a little tribute. She was an amazing woman. Not content with raising my 3 siblings all by herself, she decided that she was going to work for an NGO that worked to rescue and rehabilitate homeless girls who worked as prostituted in Recife. She grew into an AIDS educator, and was a fierce advocate of the communities where she worked. There is a whole generation of female community leaders that got their start with her help, and she always wanted to work with the poorest, least privileged communities she could find. She saw beauty everywhere and in everything, and was oblivious to the fact that she was the one who went around sprinkling it on.
She was also my favorite drinking buddy. I introduced her to good scotch and she taught me to make my favorite sweet mixed drink. Somehow we would always end up tipsy and giggly together, and would blame the other for being a bad influence.
She also saved my ass in a big way. When I was on 8th grade, I almost went into a military academy, and by now I would have been some kind of high commissioned officer in the Brazilian military. I mentioned to her once that I did not really like the military, but that it would be a stable career and she told me it was one of the stupidest things I ever said. She made me believe that I could do whatever I wanted. I would not be here if it were not for her. She was the only person to whose opinion I would defer without asking any questions. She only put her foot down hard twice in my life, and both times I knew instantly that she was right.
I am amazingly lucky to have had her.
On this day after a huge family holiday, I owe her a little tribute. She was an amazing woman. Not content with raising my 3 siblings all by herself, she decided that she was going to work for an NGO that worked to rescue and rehabilitate homeless girls who worked as prostituted in Recife. She grew into an AIDS educator, and was a fierce advocate of the communities where she worked. There is a whole generation of female community leaders that got their start with her help, and she always wanted to work with the poorest, least privileged communities she could find. She saw beauty everywhere and in everything, and was oblivious to the fact that she was the one who went around sprinkling it on.
She was also my favorite drinking buddy. I introduced her to good scotch and she taught me to make my favorite sweet mixed drink. Somehow we would always end up tipsy and giggly together, and would blame the other for being a bad influence.
She also saved my ass in a big way. When I was on 8th grade, I almost went into a military academy, and by now I would have been some kind of high commissioned officer in the Brazilian military. I mentioned to her once that I did not really like the military, but that it would be a stable career and she told me it was one of the stupidest things I ever said. She made me believe that I could do whatever I wanted. I would not be here if it were not for her. She was the only person to whose opinion I would defer without asking any questions. She only put her foot down hard twice in my life, and both times I knew instantly that she was right.
I am amazingly lucky to have had her.
That's such a sad statement, but at the same time you seem content. It's good to be able to appreciate what was beautiful about someone even after you've lost them.
I haven't been exposed to much Brazilian music, I'm afraid. Most of what I've found I've sought out myself, like old bossa nova and samba classics from compilations. When I was in Brazil for the first time as an adult I was stunned by the sheer number of subgenres that exist within Brazilian music. I'd like to get to know them all-even pagode's good for dancing sometimes, right?
i needed that comment.