The first thing I did when I felt better from my flu was walk into a hair salon and beg for them to shave my beard off.
After 4 months on the road and 3 months growing the beast, I looked like a mountain man! At first it was funny but towards the end it started getting to be too much. Especially when food got stuck on it and, or my moustache started to get into my mouth.
With a fresh face and feeling much better, I went on a bus and airplane journey to Barretos for the 61st edition of the largest rodeo in Latin America. I have a contract with my sponsors that I must attend Barretos every year for marketing and advertising purposes and in exchange they help me with my adventures.
“Don’t worry Filipe, I will take care of your mares like they are my own,” Thiago Lima assured me before I said goodbye to my girls.
The thought of being away from Life and Doll for a week killed me! But there was no other way.
After two long days travelling, I arrived in the city I had left from, on horseback, 4 months earlier – insane to think about. I set up camp behind the Goyazes stand, the boot company that sponsors me, and began a long week of rodeo fun and work.
I did a talk at the Barretos Children’s Cancer Hospital and at a book launch. I was also part of two live television shows and too many interviews to count. I played reporter for a day for a Brazilian country channel, took a million selfies, signed autographs, and found some time to watch some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in Brazil compete.
The highlight of the trip by far was seeing my family! My mom, dad, and sisters drove up to Barretos to spend two days with me.
“I missed you so much,” my little sister said hugging me with all her little 10-year-old strength.
Seeing my family made me realize just how much I missed them. And how much I have to give up going on these journeys. In just 4 months my little sister changed so much. She went from a child to a little woman and that scared me.
When it came time to say goodbye, the tears started falling. It was sad to see them go but I’m thankful I had those days with them. It made me return to Santana do Livramento ready to take on Uruguay.
