José Braz-Gomes was a real human being. A friend to all. One of those old Macau personalities who will always remain in the collective memory of this city. I had the privilege and the opportunity of him letting me be his friend. Always prepared to help others, he could be sarcastic sometimes, yes, but with a sense of humour that people of our era tend not to have. A couple of minutes with him and you were captivated. Rounds of golf and 19th holes with him would make you think that he enjoyed life, as people should but do so less often. Until recently, we laughed, told stories, and talked. We did what friends do. The knowledge of the experience he had. The simple life. The laugh – oh! the laugh. “And now, nobody says anything?” when he had a great score at one of the MGCC holes, or “too late!”, when he had already won the private competitions we had with each other. We sometimes watched our beloved football club, when we could say in 90 minutes that we were the best or the worst. When we were all certain of the existence of the love for our club, Benfica. Zezinho (Little Joe), as I teased him several times, despite the difference in age, was really a person who could make you believe that despite all the setbacks, all the mistakes and errors, all the bad things that happen to us, there is hope for a better and joyful life. Part of our existence is our friends and when those of his calibre depart we feel even more lonely in the ride that life is. He was part of the Macau community: Chinese, Portuguese and English speakers. Almost everyone liked him for what he really was. When we fight with someone, when we want something bad to happen, when we are trying to take money with us to the coffin, we should consider that this all goes in the blink of an eye. Last Friday, a few buddies that used to see him over the weekend said goodbye, unfortunately forever. He looked in good shape. We exchanged a couple of smiles and chatted about Benfica. I wish I could have talked more and more and more. People should talk, you know, like they do not talk anymore. They chat, they exchange sms, they are in whatsapp, in a virtual world that does not have people talking to each other. Exchanging ideas, laughing at the other and at themselves. José laughed many times. That sixty-something years old kid smile, the feeling of pranking with life. The respect for values that are disappearing. Well, it seems that this is a business newspaper. Who cares! Just enjoy life, my dear readers, as Mr. Braz-Gomes did. With pleasure, with joy. Thank you, José, for passing through my life and do please look after all of us. We will miss you physically, but you will be with us until our last days, with your smile and cigar.
—
