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I was driving from Milho Verde to Diamantina when my car got stuck in the sand.
There was no way to move forward nor backward. Night had fallen, it was cloudy (no moonlight) and the darkness was absolute.
I had no choice but walk and try to find someone to help me. |


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I was lucky because less than one mile ahead I found Zezinho & Clemencia's home.
They were helpful: called their children and nephews, brought all imaginable tools - but we were not able to remove my car.
The only available truck was in Milho Verde (about 2 km away) and... broken.
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Seu Zezinho & D. Clemência live with some of their 11 children (plus 1 of their grandchilden) in a humble house located in a area known as Ausentes de Cima (Upper Absents...).
Before I could say a word, they had already invited me to stay with them during that night. |




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I was given their best room & best bed... |


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... and they shared their dinner with me:
rice (planted by themselves) beans (planted by themselves) cabbage (just picked from their vegetable garden) eggs (produced by their hens, and fried in pig fat) bacon (made by themselves, as well as the pig fat).
They offered me the cane liquor they produced, and coffee (planted by themselves), sweetened with the molasses they also produced... |






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Clemência is just 52 years old, married twice. She was a widow and had 2 children when she met Zezinho, who was also a widower, much older than her and with 5 children. They had 6 more children together, one of whom died during a flood.
The little boy (on top of the stove) is one of their many grandchildren, and is raised by them.
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Zezinho (José do Patrocínio) is almost blind.
He still works from Monday to Monday, producing all they need to survive.
He loves pig fat and snuff (pulverized tobacco), which he knows are not very healthy. But he also loves the four cats and four dogs they have at home - and which seem to be part of the family. |
















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Having my car stuck in the sand was the best thing that could ever have happened to me during this journey, because otherwise I would have never met such wonderful, warm, happy and generous people.
As Clemência said when I left, I was already part of their family.
"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."
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