The Golden Days

Young, pretty, with a bubbly personality. I literally lit every room I got in. I could feel it. I've always had this magnetic personality, I was a fun person to be around. Loved a drink (and a smoke). I loved going out at night and was never afraid. I was that confident.

Health, love, friendship, school, work, a whole life ahead of me. I had a good"routine" going on.

My mum is a loving, sensitive but conservative type of woman. God, she's headstrong! When I was little I would see her as a soft petal but over the years I met a shell side and she is a hard cookie. Word of mouth background: Brought up in a small remote village, was always a very shy child. Stories are told that she would only speak when she was given sweeties.

My dad is a man of principles and values, but he's a softie, a forgiving soul. He's easily tearful, just like me. We both quickly get emotional with all things pure, beautiful and noble. Word of mouth background: A proud man of his achievements. From starting to work from the young age of 13 till getting shot and surviving during the last Portuguese colonial war, he has certainly built his very own patrimony.

They truly love each other and always worked through any problems together. They were so different that they genuinely complemented each other. They were also quite progressive thinkers. They like to keep well informed and have always refused to resign keeping up with the times, regardless of which topic it was.

Another thing that I have always felt proud of was that they both recognised that there were certain things men can do better than women and others that women do better than men. But they also knew there were loads of tasks both could do unarguably equally well - like washing the dishes or fixing an electrical connection -. And they were happy like that.

I am such a lucky and proud daughter. I hope they know that.

Being an only child I'd like to think my parents managed to raise me pretty well, without making me feel entitled. I was always brought up to realise that no achievements feel better than the ones we have worked hard for. They've successfully transferred all of the basic human values and principles. They taught me that it doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, anybody can afford to be honest, respectful, integrated, compassionate, AND clean.

Showing with acts - more than with words - our love for each other, they didn't ever charge me or made me feel like I have not expressed my love enough. It's just a family thing, I guess. They are the best parents a girl could ever have. They have loved me more than I have loved myself, time and time again.