Me and Mr. Neeleman

It 27 years ago today, I was in Olinda, sick had food poison and I was in my father's friend house, when Neeleman and Parrela appeared in front door, a little detail is necessary, I was a Mormon missionary at that time, Elder Santana, doing my two years (believe r not, it was one of the best times of my life, believe or not), well, Neeleman was that funny guy, always with that smille on his face, and always saying how nice was doing his mission in the country where he was born.
Neeleman's parents are Americans and David Neeleman was born in Sampa (São Paulo city), I think that when he was 3 or 5 went with his family to US, but according him, always kept some kind of contact with Brazil.
Believe me, I'm serious, during his mission he used to be so proud to say that he was born in Brazil, even with his strong American accent. Not that fake proud, but something... ok, I saw tears in his eyes when we were signing the Brazilian National Anthem, and I used to ask my self why? Brazil was something that used to be a shame for me, we lived for more than 18 years in a most stupid corrupt and hypocrite dictatorial military government you can imagine, let me give you one idea; imagine Sadam Hussein, with George W. Bush speech. Well, that was our president, a moron with an attitude! I was sick and tired to see children digging in the garbage to get something to eeat, and to be honest, I would change my citizenship with a smile in my face.
Neeleman told me that he would do something for that country, once I asked him, what, he told me that he did not know, but would do something.
Well, after so many years, he went down there, and now he is starting one air company, well, David Neeleman is famous for his company here, Jet Blue, and obvious, all the jokes people used to make.
Sometimes looks weird, how success could be fallowed by so many criticism! In a time when so many companies are breaking or bankrupting, Jet Blue is an example of efficiency and quality with low fares, well, mistakes happens in any part of life, everybody can do mistakes, is part of learning, and now I get so many people talking about him and his company.
Sometimes I ask myself about the big companies of the past, Panam (Pan American), Braniff, and many others…
Success could be painful, one thing that Neeleman certainly knows, and I don’t think that he cares about it.
I didn’t see him since I finished my missionary work and I don’t know if he would remember me or not, is not my business, but I can admire him to keep his promise. He said that one day he would go to Brazil and do something for the country of his birth, and he did it!