Mr. Kenny Rogers was an inspiring American songwriter, singer, and actor. One thing is sure: His pure voice is beautiful [his looks too :)] and his lyrics are deep. Indeed, his words are filled with the simplicity and beauty of both truth and humanity.
Anyhow, as per the title of this post, Mr. Rogers was indeed born on August 21. Precisely in 1938. Sadly, the world of music lost him on March 20, 2020 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Rogers).
However, luckily for us, music outlives artists. How could it not to when it is, as cleverly phrased by Mr. Billy Joel, “an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music ” (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/302903)?
Today, Bambi has a thought for you, Mr. Rogers. To thank you, she will share a few of your beautiful songs with her readers, hoping they will enjoy them.
May your memory be as eternal as your music, Mr. Rogers.
As for the national anthem of Bambi’s birth country, according to her, it is surely one of the most beautiful existing anthems in our world, as per older posts shown at the end of this one. Indeed, bravo to the Lebanese anthem for being a call for unity among ALL the citizens and for putting Lebanon FIRST, that’s before and above everyone’s interests (are political leaders listening?). Of course, there is also the very nice melody.
To conclude this post, Bambi will allow herself to offer this Toulouse-born soprano singer the beautiful LaMarseillaise (French anthem) as interpreted acapella by… herself! She will end with an Arabic Dalida song, entitled “Salma Ya Salama“, also cleverly interpreted by Ms. Antonelli. Bravo!
Bambi would like to thank her friend Fred for sharing this hilarious comedy in the format of a short Youtube video.
For those of you who appreciate trigger warnings in life, and especially if you are either into wokeism or into racism BUT WITH a thin skin, please do not watch as you could be offended.
Otherwise, that is if you appreciate freedom of expression in arts, still have your sense of perspective and humour in life while knowing how to challenge yourself with analytic thinking, it would be safe (and even fun!) to watch. Bambi is saying so, regardless of whether you agree or not with the content of this video.
Of note, you may wish to watch until the end as the latter is quite funny… Isn’t it Fred and/or Louis :)?
Thank you, Gina, for having kindly accepted to share your pictures with the readers of Bambi’s Afkar’s blog.
If she may, Bambi would like to end this brief post by offering you Mr. Enrico Macias’ French song, entitled “Toi la mer immense” [You, Immense Sea]. It is subtitled in both French and English, the two official languages of our beautiful province!
A picture taken by Gina at the end of Maisonneuve beach showing a view of Caraquet in NB.
A picture taken by Gina at the end of Maisonneuve beach.
Gina appreciating the darkness at the end of Maisonneuve beach.
Gina appreciating the darkness at the end of Maisonneuve beach.
Luckily, we are still in the summer as it will officially end on September 22.
However, some would say that the summer ends when kids go back to school. If Bambi is not mistaken, it is this week in some Canadian provinces like Québec.
Others would argue that it will end after the long weekend of labour day, which falls on Monday September 5 this year. It is not for nothing that many North American universities start their academic year immediately after Labour day (or the last long weekend of the summer season).
Regardless, Bambi would add that the end of the summer is also a mindset; a readiness, so to speak, and surely a concrete preparation for many of us. In other terms, it is both a realization and an acceptance that the end of a season means the beginning of another one. Indeed, Bambi once wrote on her blog the following: “Even if Bambi loves the summer (in which she was born), she adores the fall season, especially in our part of North America with its magical colours”.
Thus, we can argue that grieving the end of a stage is like the little good-bye we say to a season: It is a transition from one stage to the other. It is all about moving forward in life and learning to live in a transformed way. For instance, it may be without the presence of a loved one, whether a dear human or a pet. It may also be with a new dawn, dream, or a life project. It may also be with a renewal of ourselves, even within the continuation of the same processes, relations, or journeys.
Anyhow, transitions are usually a vulnerable period of a life. Luckily, they also carry an incredible potential for learning and growth.
May your forthcoming seasonal transition be smooth and rewarding, regardless of where you will be at that particular time of your life.
To conclude this post, which seems a bit too philosophical even if Bambi does not pretend to take herself or life too seriously :), here are a few songs referring to the end of the summer or start of the autumn season!
Our CBC, funded with Canadians’ tax money, does not hesitate one second to publish articles defaming professors to intimidate them. However, it pretends to be too delicate when it comes to using English words or expressions like “a mother tongue“. What is the purpose of this new ban? And when will all this absurdity end?
To conclude this short post on political correctness pushed to absurd levels, Bambi would like to thank Mr. Kay again for his tweet. If she may, she would like to end with Mr. Georges Moustaki’s beautiful song “Ma liberté” sub-titled in English. It will be followed by the wonderful interpretation of this song by Ms. Chimène Badi. She does not know about you, but she cannot listen to this superb French song without thinking of freedom of thought and of expression, not just freedom to be ourselves like in the song.
While quickly touring the tweets of Canadian journalists this morning, Bambi came across a re-tweet of a sharp comment by Dr. Michel Trudeau, a Québec talented producer and clinical psychologist (an English translation follows).
“The Chief of the Taliban state would have responded to the opponents of the burqa that the latter was absolutely not a symbol of oppression, but rather a dress fashion, just like the scarf for men. We see him in this picture, with two other models, presenting the fall-winter collection”.
To conclude this brief post, and joking aside, it is DEEPLY disturbing and sad how the world left the Afghani women behind, as per Bambi’s older post shown further below. So, thank you Dr. Trudeau for your sarcastic yet sharp sense of humour, which is attracting our attention to women’s horrible daily life under Taliban rule. Bambi’s heart goes to all of them!
With her permission, Bambi does not want to go to bed without sharing with you a beautiful picture taken earlier today in Lebanon by her sister Roula while sitting on her apartment’s balcony facing the Mediterranean sea.
A picture taken by journalist, author, and professor Roula Douglas on her balcony in Beirut, Lebanon.
Bambi has already shared on her blog how much she appreciates sunsets (or after-sunset times) because they hold the promise of a new dawn.
A new dawn is a promise of a new hope. Is there anything more meaningful and powerful in life than the latter?
As one of Bambi’s friends in town once said, dawns or mornings are a blessing as we open our eyes grateful that we are (still) alive.
Yes, being alive, or rather feeling full of life, is highly rewarding. Indeed, every moment of our lives is usually worth living. Of course, this includes joyful, sad, or mixed moments of our lives, including grief journeys with their valuable lessons.
Without much philosophy, Bambi will stop here to share two songs about the sun. The first melody is by Dalida and it is called Soleil Soleil [Sun, Sun]. Believe it or not, Bambi still freshly recalls this TV moment, most likely in Germany, from 1984 (she was 12 years old back then).
As for the second song, it is originally by the late and great Sabah, a Lebanese diva. It is about hope in life. Precisely, the hope of the sunrise of the feast’s sunshine. Bambi had posted this song on her blog once. Here, it is interpreted by Mr. Marwan Khoury, a talented singer from her birth country whom she just discovered. To conclude this post, Bambi will leave you with an English translation of this lovely song, hoping you will enjoy it as much as she did!
The tragedy of Ms. Hanaa Khodr (21 years old) happened in Tripoli, North of Lebanon a few days ago. Bambi just learned about it while quickly reading the re-tweets of Beirut-based journalist Roula Douglas.
In a few hours, it will be midnight here in New Brunswick. Technically, we can start projecting ourselves into tomorrow– August 15, 2022. So, we can already say “Bon quinzou”, National Day/fête nationale of the Acadians :)!
Talking abou the Acadians, here is Mr. Michel Fugain’s famous 1975 song offered from Bambi to all of them with much love. It is nicely interpreted below by Ms. Natasha St Pier and it is entitled “Tous les acadiens et les acadiennes“! ❤️ ️
Bambi cannot complete this post without the following additional messages:
(1) Happy Birthday to her childhood friend Fadi! Bambi is making him slightly wiser (as older), a few hours ahead of August 15 🙂 ❤️
(2) Happy Name Day to all those called Maria, Mary, Maryam, Marie or composed names with Marie, including you Mabelle (as your birthday is on the 16 :)). Yes, Bambi is thinking of you and Nicolas ❤️❤️ :)!
&
(3) Last but not least , a Happy continuation of the “Feast of Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Long Weekend in Lebanon (as well as in Cyprus and parts of Europe)!! Yes, she is particularly thinking of he cousin Elham and her spouse, our dear “Abouna Elias”, along with their lovely Saint-Mary’s church in Beirut. In addition to church bells and Byzantine chants (with Father Elias’ fabulous voice), she can imagine the smell and taste of all the delicious Tamrieh being cooked, tonight and all day tomorrow, outside of the church. Mmm!
Well, thanks to her cousin Rana, Bambi and her family had the chance to indulge in this desert on July 20 [another feast in Lebanon, namely Saint Eliah’s Day :)] ❤️.
Tonight, Bambi’s dad reminded her of the famous “Hrisseh“, “a traditional Lebanese porridge consisting primarily of wheat and meat lamb”. It is especially cooked on the Assumption of Mary’s Day in the Bhamdoun village. Mmm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hrisseh)! Well, Bambi cannot mention this charming place without thinking of her friends Mary and Mounir ❤️ ❤️. Seing them this summer was a pure joy and a blesssing. By the way, Happy Name Day, Mary :).
A picture courtesy of Rana received by Bambi when her cousin commented to this post. This is the Hrisseh, cooked yearly by her mom Amale (Bambi’s dear aunt!) to honour Mary, the mother of Jesus :). Blessings and much love to Amale et al.
To conclude this post, back to its start: Happy National Acadian Day again to all, including you Gina et al. :). ❤️
