“National Make a Friend Day”: to what extent does this mean anything to you?

No clue who declared February 11 National Make a Friend Day
(http://tinyurl.com/4w877fe3), but is there anything sweeter in life than someone you can call a friend?

Humans are social beings. To survive, live, and thrive, they need to be surrounded. Of course, quality of our interpersonal relationships matter much more than quantity.

Those of us lucky to have true and genuine friendships are blessed with life assets. The latter resist geographical distance, time, and silence. They can buffer the effect of high stress and even transcend death.

Bearing all the above in mind, how do those supportive friendships start? In other terms, how do we make new friends? And how do we keep older ones even when we move or when we become too busy with our lives? How do we re-honour those friendships if we have lost them with time or due to misunderstandings? And should we keep all our friends in our lives? When is the time to end them or to keep nurturing them?

How precious are the strangers we meet in times of adversity who smile at us while, slowly but surely, becoming unexpected friends when so-called ones existed our lives?

What about the good Samaritan who extends a hand of support during a challenging moment or a journey of solitude?

And what about each one of us for us: how can we re-connect with the respective forgotten, or neglected, friends within us?

How can we be or remain a good friend to someone else?

Or how do we grieve meaningful seasonal friendships that came to an end? Or those dear friends, like family members, who were taken from us by death?

Lots of questions. The answers belong to each one of us. Time is said to be a good friend in this learning process. You are welcome if you wish to publicly share your thoughts on this topic. If you prefer, Bambi would also enjoy hearing from you more privately. This being said, she will now end this post by thanking you for being her blog’s friends. Have a wonderful day tomorrow whether you will make a new friend or you will act in a friendly way to someone else!

Mr. Mario Pelchat: thank you for your uplifting song entitled “Croire” [Believe]!

This evening, and almost accidently, Bambi discovered Mr. Mario Pelchat’s beautiful French-Canadian song entitled “Croire” [Believe], which is all about what is essential in our lives. Of course, beliefs are a personal matter. We all believe in something, in someone. Some of us may be disconnected from our beliefs yet we can re-embrace them “to live again”, as the song goes. This brief musical post features this song, along with a quick English translation of its lyrics. Thanks to Mr. Google Translate for his assistance. As for Mr. Pelchat, may he keep singing and inspiring us.

Believe in the beauty of the world

In the goodness of men

Believe in the deep truth

And believe that everything is forgiven

Believe in the summer sun

To the path that must be followed

Knowing that time heals us

And believe in humanity

Oh believe in lost love

In dreams, in a child

May this hope be from the fall of heaven

Or spring

Believe it for just a moment

It’s still living

To believe is to live again

To believe is to live again



​Believe in guitar chords

With melodies that make you laugh

Say that the end

Is just a departure

For paths to the future

Believe in the earth beneath our feet

Raise a glass to friendship

Hope for just one day

That we can love each other

Without breaking

Oh believe in lost love

In dreams, in a child

May this hope be from the fall of heaven

Or spring

Believe it for just a moment

It’s still living

To believe is to live again

To believe is to live again

To survive my tears

I believed in other lives elsewhere

When the night slows down my wounds

A better world

A better world

Oh believe in lost love

In dreams, in a child

May this hope be from the fall of heaven

Or spring

Believe it for just a moment

It’s still living

To believe is to live again

To believe is to live again

To believe is to live again

To believe is to live again“.

L’Orient Today: “13 sentenced to death for homosexuality in Yemen”

Thank you L’Orient Today for informing of the following horrible forthcoming public crimes against innocent Yemeni gay men : “A Houthi-run court in Yemen has sentenced 13 people to public execution on homosexuality charges, a judicial source said Tuesday, as human rights groups decried a rise in abuses by the Iran-backed rebels” (https://rb.gy/ema36z). Does anyone care about them?

Ms. Giulia Falcone: she sings from her soul in English, French, and Italian!

In a world filled with senseless violence and intolerance, thankfully there will always be room for music, songs for love, and prayers. Ms. Giulia Falcone’s pure voice, refreshing talent, and remarkable sensitivity, at a young age and in in all languages, are inspiring to say the least. Of note, her last song combines Italian with French. Bambi is happy she discovered Ms. Falcone and could not wait to share with you her talent. She thanks her for existing and urges her to keep singing to make our world a better place!

Karen & Rana: Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to a dear niece and a cousin!

Bambi had a lot on her mind lately. As a result, her memory got a little birthday confusion. Indeed, she wrote in an earlier post dedicated to her cousins that Rana’s birthday was on February 4th, instead of the 6th. Thankfully, she just corrected this little mistake.

Before realizing the above though, and very early this morning, she wrote to both Rana and Karen [in the middle of her sleep :)] to say sorry for having missed their birthdays. How funny this moment was when her sister made her realize that their joint birthday is only tomorrow at their end in Lebanon, which is now at her end in Atlantic Canada.

Well, regardless of the precise day of this special month, she trusts that both Rana and Karen will forgive her for having made them slightly order :). At the end of the day, what matters is the expression of affection and the good wishes. Indeed, Bambi’s heart is filled with love for them. She considers herself blessed to have seen them both a month ago.

This being said, now is the time to conclude their post. In doing so, Bambi will address Karen first by saying the following: your aunt loves you beyond words and is proud of the wonderful woman you became. As for you Rana, your cousin who loves you a lot is inspired by you in so many ways, including your care for your parents (in addition to your cooking talent). Have fun both of you while singing for life, as per Mr. Michel Fugain’s song by Kids United (subtitled in English)!

There is nothing like a soothing song in times of sorrow

In this brief musical post, and with much love, Bambi’s heart goes to her sister, and her colleagues too, as well as to her dear friends currently grieving a recently deceased loved one, including her own friend/family friend. Many of them are readers of this blog and they will recognize themselves. They may be reading now from as far as Lebanon or as close as Atlantic Canada (Sackville, Moncton, and Dieppe), and the USA. May the memory of their loved ones be eternal. Peace to their hearts and souls with every passing day and night.

Khalil & Rana: adorable cousins are among the greatest blessings in life

Bambi is blessed to have wonderful cousins whose love is greater than space and time. Khalil and Rana are brother and sister. They are two of Bambi’s many wonderful cousins. They are so sweet and funny too. Today happens to be Khalil’s birthday, which will be followed by Rana’s in four days only [OK not the same year :)]. May they always remember how much they both mean, not just to Bambi, but also to her spouse and to all family members who live in almost every continent. May their new year be filled with love, laughter, and lots of good times!

Happy 119 Birthday, sweetest Bécassine!

Bambi wishes Bécassine a wonderful birthday!

Bécassine is a French sequence of cartoons (or a comic strip) and its female heroine. She stood the test of time since she appeared for the first time on February 2, 1905 (http://tinyurl.com/mrn9zkte)

For those who do not know her well, Bécassine is a Breton housemaid. In just a few minutes (Atlantic time), that is on February 2nd, this forever young character will turn 119. How can Bambi coldly go to bed before highlighting this exciting historical event? She will do so by offering Bécassine three songs chosen with much care and gratitude for the happy childhood memories. The first song features Ms. Chantal Goya with her cousin Bécassine :). The second melody is Tri Martolod, which means three sailors in Breton, with the talented Ms. Nolwenn Leroy [Bambi adores this song]. As for the third melody, of course it is Happy Birthday in French.

Long live Bécassine! Joyeux Anniversaire chère Madame Bécassine :)!