Just yesterday, at midnight, on my 35th birthday, I returned to the United States after being away about two weeks in Portugal. My mother immigrated here when she was 13 years old from Terceira in the Azores.
During my time, I journaled each evening. The entries were less of a recap itinerary and more reflective. Particularly, at this moment in time for our country, and at my own personal crossroads both in age (morbidly, American men only live to about 70), and in purpose, a lot feels like I’m on a precipice of a major shift. This Substack will now be edited versions of those entries accompanied with photographs from both Terceira and Lisbon.
In Terceira, a still popular pastime are the touradas, which are bull runs through different towns all throughout the island. These touradas are the kick-off to each town’s festival and happen from May to October.
Each bull run has four bulls, one at a time. In Terceira, they call the fifth bull the party after the event, where folks continue drinking and eating until stupor.
The title shift for this publication is The Sixth Bull. To me, the sixth bull is the come down, the quieter moment, deep inside yourself, after the party. It can be despondent, hopeful, reflective - a vein that’s truer to your being than any other. I am coming down from a trip that I will remember for the rest of my life. A trip that feels like an era designation of my life, a Before Portugal and After Portugal. This publication will be the thoughts of a son of an immigrant, in the wake of the decline of this nation. Homeland vs. country. Belonging vs. nationality. And working through the frustration that this American Dream sold to my grandmother was a lie.
A shot from the plane of Terceira, as we left the island.
Your aunt is very proud of your post. Saudades! Kisses and hugs.