On Being Number Two

I am the second of three daughters. Since my father always mixed our names up, he settled for calling us by number. I was "Number Two." So I know full well what it’s like to be number two, to have second billing, to be second in the chain of command, and I can imagine what it must feel like to be second in line to the British throne. Currently, I’m the second listing on one of our utility bills, which shows my husband’s name followed by the words "e o outro" (and the other one). Boy, do I know what it means to have to try harder. Avis, I’m with you.

I used to live in the Number One country (according to scores of criteria), but now I live in the Number Two country (which might explain why I feel so at home here). There isn't a day that goes by that I don’t read the words, "Brazil is second only to the United States in . . ." or "Brazil is the world's second largest market for . . .," always followed by the United States. It’s become quite the joke of the house. Here’s just a sampling:

On the health and medical front, Brazil is second only to the United States in the number of stomach reduction and cosmetic surgeries performed. Brazil is the world's second largest market for breast implants, dental implants, and private health plans. In its search for healthier lifestyles, Brazil is the world's second largest market for exercise equipment. But at the beginning of the twenty-first century, Brazil unfortunately ranked second only to the United States in the number of reported cases of AIDS. On an even darker note, Brazil has become the world's second largest market for cocaine and crack consumption.

Moving on to food consumption and/or production, Brazil is second only to the United States in land area planted with genetically modified crops. It’s second only to the United States in soy production and in corn exports. Brazil is the world's second largest market for pet food and for Nestlé products. And although "they’ve got an awful lot of coffee in Brazil," the country is also second to the United States in coffee consumption.



blindado = armored

As a country with a thriving, pulsating business economy, Brazil is the world's second largest market for executive jets and helicopters, for cell phones and for fax machines. It’s also the world's second largest market for armored cars (hmmm). Brazil is second only to the United States in the number of ATM machines it has, and in the number of private swimming pools it boasts. Brazil is the world's second largest surf and skateboard market, and the world's second largest market for jeans. (Why I can’t find a pair of Brazilian jeans that I like is another story.)

And here’s an interesting one for the socially-networked: Brazil is second only to the United States in number of Facebook users!







Mind you, I can’t vouch for any of this information because it’s constantly changing. In some instances China has surpassed Brazil (particularly in the luxury goods markets). But I can vouch categorically for what it feels like to be number two, and I know that Brazil has that "number two" mind set. I know. I wasn't just number two in birth order. In my most shining high school moment I won second place in the 1967 New Jersey Forensic League Oratory Contest. "Always number two," said my almost-proud father.