row6-BrazilV2

When I was 10, back then, boats didn't have motors, they only had sails. We used to spend 25 days at sea On the way back, the money was split evenly. Money for my family, for the fishermen. There were 12 men. Next day, we returned to fish. The boat used to come loaded. In and out. The story of my life. Some people ask me: "Did you lose your childhood?" I say: "What is childhood?" My name is Edmundo de Santana Santos. I've struggled to raise my brothers. My father died when we were all little. The oldest was 13. The youngest, a newborn, only 40 days old. The older brothers took care of the little ones. Eleven brothers, total, and we did it Raised them all. My marriage was like something out of a soap opera. We met during a Carnival celebration. We only met during Carnival, once a year. I had no time, she had no time. For four years, all we did was say "hi" to each other. She used to come to my mother's house. We all lived together. And then one day... We got together. I rented a shack. In three days, I went back to fishing. I came back after a month and half. Three days at home, back to fishing. We must fight for what we want in life. That is the lesson I try to pass on to my children. "If you work hard, you can get it." If you don't have any faith or just wait for a blessing, nothing comes out of the sky, except for rain and sunshine. My dream is to see my kids settled before I go. So they won't have to suffer as I did. So I pray to the Lord to illuminate their ways.