December 31, 1958
That year family and friends gathered around our dining room table listening to the radio waiting for the stroke of midnight to welcome the New Year with sidra and grapes. The number one song of the year was “Volare” and they kept playing it over and over.
Shortly after midnight we heard “Ultima Hora – Cayo Batista” (Breaking news – Batista has fled). I was 9 years old and could not begin to comprehend the impact that event would have in my life.
The song “Volare” (To Fly) kept on playing amid updates on Batista’s defeat by Fidel Castro’s revolution. It was the perfect theme song for the occasion.
Proud to be from Pica Pica 
Flying can be a good and beautiful thing too. I pray this new year will be a flight to blessings and bliss. May our hopes be realized and our fears snuffed out.
Amen!
I will remember this story from now on every time I hear volare. 😦