Greetings friends of @cinnccf.

It's been a while since I've posted in the community, and it's not because I stopped drinking coffee, ha, ha, ha, but to be honest, I hadn't been to any new coffee shops, nor were they places for celebrations and sharing pleasant moments; they were crutch coffees, the kind that help you stay afloat amidst unease, worry, and uncertainty.

This last quarter of the year was defined by my sister's illness. We were in and out of hospitals almost daily, and my time ceased to be mine as I dedicated myself to her care. I had to assist her with even the smallest details. Thank God, she has been improving, and I am more at peace, getting back to my daily routine.

That's why when my beautiful and supportive friends invited me for coffee a few days ago to say goodbye to the year, I didn't hesitate to say yes. While I was getting dressed, I was already grateful for the time I was about to spend together. I was really looking forward to the get-together, and somehow I felt that the storm was passing.

The truth is, it couldn't have been better. Always so accommodating, they let me choose the meeting place. I picked a new ice cream parlor/café, just a few kilometers from my home. When I walked past it, I thought how lovely it was and when I could stop there and spend some time there. Well, that moment arrived.

When we arrived, we saw people standing inside and hesitated to go in, assuming there was a private party. Even so, we decided to go in and were pleasantly surprised to find a singing group performing Christmas and Venezuelan music, made up of children and adults.

It turns out this group was getting together for their end-of-year performance and had planned to play their songs outdoors, on the walkway in front of the café. When the café owner saw the activity, she invited them to perform inside. They accepted, and we were treated to this wonderful show that touched us deeply.

Seeing children singing and playing music fills me with hope. I think they are children with a future, who have found and are developing their talents, children saved from the streets and bad paths, children with different opportunities.

The café turned out to belong to an old classmate. It was lovely to see her and wish her the best of luck. I complimented her on the beautiful decor, and later on the delicious ice cream and the extraordinary coffee, as well as the friendly and attentive staff.

I even liked the meaning of the name: Opa´s, a German word meaning grandparents. She told me that her children's grandparents were of German origin and have been a great support to her project; she named the café after them in their honor. A beautiful gesture of gratitude.

For all these reasons, as I left, amidst farewell hugs and well wishes, just as the community's invitation said… “Accept that tomorrow won't change everything, but that you leave this café different from when you arrived.” And indeed, that's how it was. I left the café renewed in my energy, my hope, and with the certainty that “bad” days, just as they come, pass.

Happy New Year!