Last B'Day of the Fifth decade a memorable one.

Dear Friends,

It is always good to reflect on the past year. Some are doing it on the eve of New Year, others at one of the solstices or on an important returning event.

My birthday is one of this returning moments wherein I like to reflect over the past year. Most of all because it's the day that I want to have as many of the people I love around me.

Circumstances bring people into one's life and other circumstances are taking them back to the past for sure without denying them the meaningful role they played and the warm feelings dedicated to them.

This year, due to circumstances we know, I made a choice for sobriety trying to have at least those friends around who are of vital importance since long years or shorter but who are really making the difference.

Chris & Ronny, my everlasting family. Coming here to them is as always coming home in good and bad times and the place where I never have to think if it is the right moment of the year or the right time of the day or the night.

Abraham and Maria always there also, in the background but not a part of a decorum I can assure you.

Allow me to focus on a few persons who have been of an immense support to me the last couple of years but without whom I can't guarantee that I would stand here in front of you as I am today.

Mi hermanitas, Assiyeh and Pato, the pain, the sorrow and the tears that I have unloaded this last half year on both your shoulders and the immense warmth and support you have given me in return... there are not enough words to express you my gratitude. Both of you are around already a certain number of years but everybody should know that without your invaluable presence and continuous encouragements this last month's you made my life a lot more bearable and enjoyable. I thank you both on my bare knees!

Elena, my great friend. Sometimes I don't realize that you are that far away. I miss you here and not only today, but the words you use in your regular mails are the same that you would pronounce and whisper if you were here and this makes me missing you a bit less but still too much.

Stefania, my literary groupie. I could write probably day and night just to read your comments and your incentives to write more and better and always telling me that tomorrow I will laugh with today's sorrow.

Ana. Without words? Not this time. I take this opportunity to let you know how much I value you and the friendship we developed throughout the years. Despite some difficult moments you are my soul mate in a friendship that stands like a rock.

Let me end my Praise saying thanks to those other friends who are here today, Aki, Vero, Alex, Saul, Fernanda, Yared, Catherine and to those who couldn't attend, Angelica, Benno, Andres & co, Senait, Nicola, Angela & Gonzalo and many others.

And I want to mention also all the friends in Colombia, who organized my travel to and into your marvelous country... Ana, Carolina, Ana Carola & Sergio, Erica & Andres, Fam. Rada, Viviana, Neiler, Carlos Martinez, Daniel Lopez, Andrés Toro, Harold Hoyos Goez, Julien Chenet, Paloma Ve, Martha Deyanira Garcia Gonzalez....

What's on the program for the next twelve months?

Step by step restoring what was broken, find back the people I lost and consolidate the relations with the others, mastering my health again, and exploring new job opportunities.

I can only hope that I can count on your help to realize this, which will make my last B'Day of the Fifth decade a memorable one.

I love you all.

Guy.