Deliverance from Depression: Early Childhood Memories - Part II
Continuing on my early childhood memories, I will start with the two people who played significant roles in my story: Mom & Daddy.
Daddy was a Frigate Commander in the Brazilian Navy. I remember the day Mom and I went for a visit to his ship. Daddy came out to meet us on the dock. He picked me up, held Mom's arm, and we walked on a narrow bridge over the water, connecting the pier and the ship. The railings were made of rope, and it felt wobbly. I experienced a mix of fear and excitement but being carried by Daddy's strong arms made me feel completely safe. He was my hero.
Daddy's ship: NT Marajó (G-27), an oil tanker.
I remember Mom's voice singing:
"Viva o Sol do céu da nossa terra, vem surgindo atrás da linda serra!"
"Hooray to the sun in the sky of our land, rising behind the beautiful mountain!"
What a joyful start to a new sunny day! Mom was the epitome of the 50's musical scene era: a song for every moment of life. She would always say: "Quem canta seus males espanta" (= he who sings chases his troubles away).
Mom would sometimes take me to work with her. She was the principal at this small school in a rural area. The community was impoverished. Mom would fight the state bureaucracy for the funds to keep the school running. She would ask volunteer dentists and other health professionals to care for the children. Worms and lice were widespread (I remember getting lice several times!). But Mom and the other teachers would plan and organize parties and events to bring the students' families and build a relationship with them. That also made it easier to communicate with them about any other issues concerning the students daily. Many families did not understand the value of education for their children's future. To Mom, education was meant to make life better, healthier, and more prosperous for everyone. I had a deep admiration for my Mom.
After Daddy died, Mom started receiving a pension from the Navy, so she decided to keep only one teaching job with the state of Rio De Janeiro until she was able to take early retirement. That meant spending more time with her, which I deeply craved. So, I was all smiles...
In these early years of my life, we had love, and we lost love. Daddy left the stage, and Mom was left with the one-actor role in the play.
I would always be on a quest to fill the voids, whatever early childhood memories I carried.
But for the time being, I was all smiles.
More to come, my Friend...
