Hello, coffee lovers and bevarage drinkers in general. It's been a while since I last came around here. My last post was during the initiative of the coffee poem. A very fitting love letter to something I love madly!
Today, I want to share with you some of the challenges of last week and how coffee helped me keep my cool while doing a lot.
Let's dive in:
Some conversations had sirven me to the leading role of an activity. It was a conversation about the art and craft of luthierie (making musical instruments). And since I was on this position, I had to make sure to play the part with upmost efficiency.
To tell the story of the luthierie in my hometown of Cumaná (Venezuela), I invited my master and fiend. My master is part of the tradition. His ancestors have been making instruments since 1905. The friend is the son of a well-known luthier who passed away last year. Both are part of the story. However, there's still a lot to be said about it.
When last week started, there was a lot in my cup. Someone kept pouring in and my hands were getting burnt by hot coffee. There were two pending rehearsals. Other details weren't confirmed. And I was starting to feel s very early case of stage fright.
Fortunately, last Wednesday, there were some things that saved my zen. First, I went to my weekly music classes. My teacher helped me with some for the things that I was going to play on Saturday (the day if the activity). On those classes, we usually have coffee at the beginning. It's a nice way of starting and keeping the reflexes sharp.
After that, I had a rehearsal at the theater. But I wanted outside until the orchestra's rehearsal was over. This practice wasn't too long. I had acquires the compromise of having a Flute Ensemble play of Saturday. And it wasn't until Friday that we had a general rehearsal. I also had to wait until then to get my hands on a music sheet for the songs we were playing.
Yeah, that had me on my nerves.
But let's not jump ahead of time.
On Wednesday, I wasn't sure about the things I was going to do. I sat in Bolivar' Square under our nuclear sun. Then, it dawned to me that there was a Café near. Just crossing the street and in front of Pichincha Square. With nothing else to do, but wait until the meeting to discuss the flow of the activity, I went in the Café.
I didn't want to take photos of the establishment. But I might go back and do it some day. It has some nice furniture and a wall with photos of famous people from our city. Thays a nice touch. The clerks are also very polite and work really fast. But at that our the Café was almost empty. People in this city have hours for things.
My mind was elsewhere. I ordered a mocaccino and sat for a time until it came to my table.
The presentation looked so nice that I thought about making a post for this community. Always the hiver, even in the middle of the storm. As I sipped my coffee, all my anxiety about the coming Saturday started to fade away. By the time the cup was empty, I was sure about the whole act.
The flow of the activity was clear. The timing for the questions and comments on the answers of my guests, the time for Q&A's, and the musical part.
Jumping forward to Saturday and the whole activity went great. It is a new format to be held in that house. The former house of our poet Ramos Sucre. And I got the green light to be the conductor of said activities.
There's a video of the whole thing, but it's is in Spanish, for obvious reasons. But you might be interested on the musical part. Music is the universal language to say the least.
I'd like to point out again that without that coffee at the middle of the week, I think it wouldn't have gone so well.
I'd like to finish this with my two cents. When life gets hard and finding a solution isn't the easiest thing:
Then everything will be easier.
Thanks for reading.
I'll see you in the comment section.
- Photos: All photos are mine, taken with my Redmi Note 8 smartphone.
- Cover photo and final photo: Edited with Canva.
Follow me on Instagram for enquires and commission.
If you'd like to help the workshop grow, you can make a donation here.
You can find me at discord as bertrayo#1763