Let’s talk about good stuff. As a child, there was nothing like living in Farol, a leafy neighborhood, with unpaved streets, where we could ride our bikes. My adolescence, still at Farol, was wonderful. During the holidays, my father would hold volleyball camps, buy button games, and gather the neighborhood girls and boys to have fun, while our mother prepared snacks. It was a lovely party! At that stage I wasn’t dating yet. I had lots of friends and we had fun going to the cinema, the beach, the neighborhood fair.
At the age of 15, I met an old friend from Grupo Escolar Fernandes Lima and we started dating, from afar, for six years. We only met during the holiday months. We got married, lived in several states and had four children. Imagine the joy of having children! It’s a wonderful feeling. The other day, in the middle of the night, the 83-year-old couple talked about the luck of starting a life together at 21, reaching old age lucidly, commenting on this fact. There were many struggles, joys, sadness, and we were able to conclude it with a positive balance.
Among the good things in life, the best is eating the fruit taken from the tree. In our house, we have the pleasure of harvesting pitanga, cajarana, jambo, custard apple and lemon. In the morning, a tray always appears with some of these fruits. It’s really good to exercise in our pool, looking at the sea and thanking God for giving the old couple a certain comfort. In fact, we have worked more than 60 years to get to this point. Going to mass every Sunday is another great joy. My husband is very Catholic and I am his partner’s companion, as I promised, when I got married, that I would go to Church with him on Sundays. I try to listen to the readings, understand them and interpret them for my life. I like parables. My favorite is the Prodigal Son. I understand little of the messages, but every time I hear them, I understand more. These are life lessons.
Enjoying the victories of children and grandchildren, their achievements, their joys is very enjoyable. Suddenly, one of them calls to say: Grandma, I passed the entrance exam! Or: Grandma, I’m going to be a doctor in December. Great-grandchildren are already being born! Double joy! But they all live outside Brazil. We enjoyed their first months online. Last December two came to spend Christmas in Rio de Janeiro. We went there to meet them. Great joy!
For two 83-year-olds, it is very interesting to know that they are loved, protected, supervised. The daughters call daily to find out about their blood pressure, glucose levels, medications, and medical appointments. Family is a very relevant factor. We are a large number. At the moment, it’s difficult to get everyone together on some occasions. But the blood bond is very strong and no matter how much we live apart, we don’t forget each other.
From time to time, we serve as a reference for other couples. We were in a laboratory and a lady, mother of two young girls, saw me taking care of her partner, who had undergone tests. She approached and said: “I would like to be that old, like you.” How beautiful! We were proud. I heard from a priest friend of ours that old couples no longer kiss. I disagree with him. At our age, we need love, affection and lots of kisses. Reaching the end of life trying to live with joy, enjoying the good times, taking care of your health, enjoying your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, is very healthy. Life is short, but it’s good!
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