independence day: womb and brazil

September 7, Brazil will be commemorating its 187th year of Independence.

Tomorrow, September 5, Vanessa and I will commemorate my independence from the womb.

The Regent Dom Pedro I declared Brazilian independent from Portugal on September 7, 1822. In the year 1808, King John VI of Portugal decided to flee from the oncoming French troops of Napoleon and moved the government of Portugal to Brazil. Although King John VI was well liked, the Brazilian people did not feel the same about his cronies.

I liked the earth when I arrived, I think. But like the Brazilians, I just didn't like some of its cronies.

The Brazilians then looked to their favorite son Dom Pedro as their natural leader.

I looked to the OBGYN, but then he spanked me. Eventually I think I looked to my mother as leader, then my father. I soon learned I was under an oligarchy.




Dom Pedro chose independence to European rule when he said, "Independence or Death!" I think he got both. And H1N1.

During the parade at EAB, our students chanted a song that went "mas não Portugal" (no more Portugal). Perhaps, because their independence is newer, the old sores are still smarting.

The children of EAB were a swirl of lovely yellow and green, and it felt good to partake in a new history that is not mine.

Vanessa are celebrating with a trip to "The Chapadas," which are like higher altitude "mesas" of California, with waterfalls, "moonscape valleys," and epic proportions of dry biodiversity.