From 1997 to 2002

My dad and mom were born almost six years apart. If I want to talk about what they were doing at my age, I need to look at the years from 1997 to 2002.

After my graduation

I had just graduated in 1996. After spending roughly one year in Rio de Janeiro, I came back to live with my parents in São Paulo. I started working for a French company. I was so proud! It was my first real job after college. My mom became pregnant after she was 42. At that time, we had a two-year-old child in the house. I used to help change diapers, feed, and baby-sitter my little brother. It was a happy time where the promise of new life had come to our family.

Economic crisis in Brazil

The economic scenario wasn’t the best in Brazil in the following years. Both my parents had just recently started working representing pharmaceutical companies at drugstores. It was a change of career for them, which they embraced with courage. Must be remembered, they had a young child. I was doing well at my job. Because I worked so far away from where we lived, I rented a small apartment closer to the company’s offices. I was sad to move, but it was necessary.

Spending time with my brother

As the years passed, my mom and little brother visited me on weekends. Sometimes, I went over to their place. I mean, even not living together we kept in touch. We used to watch movies together, or go out to the park, or to the shopping mall. I used to take them to amusement parks and restaurants, I wanted to be involved in my brother’s life. Looking back, I am glad I was capable of doing that at that time. Since we live so far now, at least we enjoyed some time together.

World Cup 2002

Closing this on a high note, 2002 was the year that Brazil won the sixth title for the World Cup. I don’t particularly remember the final match, but I am almost 100% sure that I watched it with my family. That is just something that you do in Brazil, the whole country literally stops to watch the games. And you certainly do it with family and friends. I want to believe I was watching it with them.

So, this is just some highlights of what my parents were doing from 1997 to 2002. My dad is not with us anymore. I know I miss him. But I am glad to have my mom around, and of spending time with them while I was in Brazil.