In Living Memory Of

In Loving Memory of Antonio Gloria - Victoria Gloria

All italicized text is said by my father… all the time. (Brazilian Portguese)

Não, eu trabalho e você estuda                                                                   No, I work, You study

Is my Papai’s response to me asking to get a job

A escola e o seu trabalho, estude bem!                                                      School is your job, you better do it well!

School is your only job, he says, do it well

My father is constantly working, 

Through hail storms and at -20 degree weather,

Waking up at 5 am every morning, only to come home at 10.

But all he says is,  é só o meu trabalho, bebê!                                            It’s just my job, sweety!

Ever so humble. 

Oi, tudo bem meu amor?                                                                             Hey, How are you sweety?

Papai is home 

in his millionth Home Depot shirt that he got at a giveaway, 

and his big work boots that he got pro Natal.                                               for Christmas.

But don’t be fooled, 

He comes home, tired out of his mind everyday. But 

What does he do? 

COOK! 

He drives an hour home, just to start working again, 

never getting a break from either job.

Ja jantou? Que você quer pra comer?                                                        Ate dinner? What do you want to eat?

Oh, you didn know? He’s a professional chef!

Pra onde você vai? Não menti pra mim, Vitória…                                      Where are you going? Don’t lie to me, Victoria...

Did I mention, he’s an FBI agent?

Se você precisar ajuda com matemática, e so mi falar.                             If you need math help, just call.

Oh, I forgot to tell you, 

He’s also a world renowned mathematician!

Desse jeito você vai ficar doente, come mais!                                           You’re going to get sick like this, eat more.

Oops, and a doctor.

Ta saindo pra onde? Termino seu dever?                                                   Where do you think you’re going? Homework done?

Always making sure I get my studies done first

Love you

Oh, one last thing…

He’s my Papai.

He was born in a poor Favela,                                                                     brasilian shanty-town

owning only a single pair of old chinelos for his feet

A boy with only one 

dream, 

Um futuro melhor pra você e o seu irmãozinho!                                         A better future for you and your little brother

Translating to, I better be a doctor when I’m older.

But then you remember, 

The bags under his eyes, 

His calloused hands.

What you forget is that, he has a choice to stop it all.

An easy choice to ignore his 5 am alarm and 

sleep a full 8 hours,

An easy choice to skip work and grab a drink.

He can do so much more.

So why continue?

For me. 

That’s why. He never reminds me.

I’m his American Dream,

I have a choice he didn’t have. A choice to determine

My own future.

Papai, I need to work, If only to help you out.

Não, você é muito nova pra trabalhar                                                          No, you’re far too young to work

I need money.

Eu te dou dinheiro, não se preocupa.                                                           I can give you money, never worry

He sacrifices so much for me.

Does so much for me.

Works so hard for me.

So,

What job does one get to repay such selflessness?

I- I don’t know.

He says he’ll die a happy man, if only I succeed in life

If only I’m happy. Seja feliz, meu amor.                                                       Be happy, love

And what will he put on his tombstone?

No meu lápide, eu vou colocar, Pai Carinhoso                                           On my tombstone, I can now put, Loving Father

Oh that’s right, Loving Father