Four years ago, if you had mentioned ANZAC Day I would have had to google it. But here we are, April 25th, 2012, in Portugal in the village of my birth making ANZAC biscuits to commemorate those Australian and New Zealand soldiers who lost their lives in war.
This ‘adventure’ we embarked on 3plus years ago has brought me back to where it all started. Literally and figuratively. As I sit here clicking away on my laptop I am meters away from the bedroom where I was born. Crazy, but true.
Today is not only ANZAC Day, but it is also 25 de Abril. The date commemorates Portugal’s Carnation Revolution. In 1974 through a peaceful military coup, which was supported through civil resistance, democracy was returned to Portugal. This day is not one my family celebrated in the States, but it always resounded with me as we emigrated to America 5 days before the revolution. As a very little girl, I would have been oblivious to any national events, but that decision my parents made to go to America is one that I will forever be grateful for. I am fully aware that my place in this world and my good fortune rests very much in that event. Our emigrating. Mom, dad, America….thank you.
I am so in awe of people like your parents who have the courage and determination and faith to pick up and move to a new place where they don’t know the language and do what it takes to make a better life for their family. They are what makes America great!