My Memoirs - Citizen of the World

STARTING MY OWN FAMILY
Meeting the Love of My Life
In March 1958, after fulfilling my duties with the Portuguese
military service, I returned home from Lisbon on the ship
Carvalho Araújo. The trip lasted 5 days, taking me on the Atlantic
Ocean to Terceira Island. I had enjoyed the time I spent in Setubal
- where I stayed for more than a year - but I left behind Aldinha, a
pretty young lady who I liked very much. We said we would write
to each other and continue our friendship, but at the age of 23, I
was not quite ready for a commitment.
When I returned to Terceira Island, I was invited to a wedding
reception in the city of Angra do Heroísm, where, from a distance,
I spotted a beautiful young woman
that I had never seen before. I asked
one of my friends who she was, and
he told me that she was a very nice
girl from São Jorge Island who also
happened to be his aunt's godchild.
Knowing me well, he made a remark
that I was not to fool around with
her. I paid no attention to what he
said and persisted to stare at her, but
she did not take any notice of me.
So I asked my friend Jorge Pontes to
tell me where she lived. He gave me
her address and mentioned that she
was only going to be in town for a few more days. She had just
graduated from Teachers College and was leaving for summer
vacation to São Jorge Island.
The next day, I went to her home and waited for hours until she
eventually came out. When she saw me, she asked me who I was,
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