Author: Bambi

Some people are naturally talented in spreading joy around them. Clearly, Mr. Patrick Sébastien is one of them. Thanks for the uplifting melodies, happy 70th birthday (https://tinyurl.com/3te7fts5), and all the best to him!

Of note, Mr. Sébastien’ second song, entitled “Comment ça va?”, is making Bambi think of the Shorts, a Dutch band with whom she was in love when she was 11, especially because of their German version of Comment ça va? (mixed with French and English). The Dutch version follows the latter. For fun, the post will end with a 7-year-old video of the same melody (in French and English) by the singer of the Shorts. What a sweet treat for Bambi’s ears and eyes, just before sleep :).

May this brief musical post succeed in putting a smile on your face, regardless of your worries or state of mind. Please remember to take good care.

Lebanon’s fate is still pending. However, its beauty is never-fading.

Hala, Bambi’s childhood friend, appreciated the latest post featuring Louis’ beautiful pictures of the sunset in PEI, Atlantic Canada. This was especially true as she was enjoying a stunning view of the Lebanese sunset from her own balcony. She captured the precious moment, which she sent to Bambi who asked if she can in turn share it with her readers.

Thank you, dear Hala, for your incredible support and continuous generosity. You have enriched this blog with meaningful contributions. In her heart’s prayer, Bambi asks God to protect you and your family in Lebanon’s incredibly delicate times. May you keep enjoying the beauty of our birth country now and for years to come. May we be able to see each other as soon as realistically possible. Until then, please take good care ❤️.

Thanks to Louis for kindly sharing his beautiful pictures with the readers of Bambi’s Afkar.

Indeed, this post shares five pictures, which Louis took last Sunday evening. It ends with a joyful Lebanese-Arabic song by Fairuz, with English sub-titles, about the charm of the nights and the fun of singing. It is entitled Ya Sahar El Layali.

Like many of you most likely, Bambi appreciates sunsets. In addition to the magic of this moment, she usually feels reassured because sunsets bring the promise of a new dawn. It does not matter how dark a night, or one’s life, can be. At the end of the day, even a tough one, there will always be the promise of a new hope with the coming next one(s).

May the sunshine of love, forgiveness, peace, beauty, and prosperity shine on the entire world, including its bloody Middle East.

May everyone be able to appreciate and spread beauty around.

Long live the beauty of the drive in the Atlantic Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) toward the Confederation Bridge.

On November 11, 1918, World War I was brought to an end.

What lessons have we learned from this war and the next ones?

How can we prevent wars? How can we keep protecting our freedoms and cherishing our peace? How can we be more united in love and in our shared humanity?

To what extent do we still honour values like sacrifice, solidarity, unity, gratitude, pride, love, and peace?

Regardless of the answer to the above questions, thank you/un grand merci to all our veterans for their courage and sacrifices.

It is with much sadness that Bambi quickly read the news of Canada, mainly of Québec, and learned about the following: arguments resulting in insults, injuries, and arrest at Concordia University (https://tinyurl.com/46cm67ph). Most significantly (as it is about criminality), she read about shooting at two Jewish schools, as well as vandalism of a synagogue, and a Jewish centre (https://tinyurl.com/bdevu9tv).

Can someone tell Bambi how could these fellow Canadians of Jewish heritage be responsible for the violence in another continent? Why are we harassing and scaring them? Why are we conflating? Of course, Bambi would have said the exact same thing had the targets been of Arab origins.

To conclude this brief post, Bambi will leave you and leave herself with a song by the late French singer, Mr. Daniel Lévi,entitled L’Envie d’aimer [the Desire to Love]. Why is it that complicated to believe in love, like the beautiful lyrics of the song? Why can’t we spread love around us in our daily lives, especially in times of much darkness in our world? Why can’t we try to listen to each other and learn from each other? Together, we may come to new opinions or imagine a better future? Why should we resort to unacceptable violence just because we are upset about this or that conflict around the world?

Mr. Yves Montand was born on October 13, 1921. He took his last breath on November 9, 1991. He had such a beautiful voice, which was discovered by Ms. Edith Piaf (https://tinyurl.com/58wcunh4). May his memory be eternal. May this post know how to honour his legacy with a few of his songs, along with warm regards to each one of you.

There are some days where we do not feel like thinking or even writing about anything. We surely do not feel like reading the news about the world, namely its doomed Middle East, which is currently filled with blood, tears, and fear. So, how about singing hymns for peace instead?

The Bird and the Child is a hymn to peace, which Bambi, adores. She was 5-year-old when this beautiful song was written by Mr. Joe Gracy. Its lovely music was composed by Mr. Jean-Paul Cara. The song made France win the Eurovision Song Contest in London, UK, thanks to the great performance of Ms. Marie Myriam (aged only 19 back then; https://tinyurl.com/bdxp7z48).

The French lyrics describe a young girl who lives in a country of war and misery. Despite this, just the sight of a bird made her dream that the latter and herself could change the world and make it more peaceful (https://tinyurl.com/bdxp7z48). Yes, she dares to imagine living in a country of love. From the point of view of the bird, the world is filled with beauty, not just human cruelty. Later, this hymn for peace became the musical symbol of the Children’s Rights League (https://tinyurl.com/bdxp7z48).

It is Bambi’s hope that the children of the entire world, including ALL those of the Middle East, will live in safety, dignity, peace, prosperity, and especially LOVE. They deserve a safe and loving world 💚. Their parents as well 💚.

Bambi sends her love to you “Mama”, across the skies. She does the same to her courageous dad as well as sisters et al., across the miles. There is not a single day that goes by where your presence is not strongly felt within her heart and mind. Please mom, be well wherever you are and watch over your family as well as your birth country, just like angels would do. We all miss you, not just on your birthday.

There is something ironic with dates sometimes. Robine’s framed picture above was taken at the wedding of Bambi’s childhood friend with her dear spouse (Bambi was not present there, but her family in Beirut attended it and celebrated their love with them). It is on the birthday of her best friend that both Robine and her mother-in-law left our world to be in heaven. May their souls keep resting in peace and may their respective memory be eternal. Much love to Bambi’s friends (et al.) and may our connection in love as well as faith transcend death.

Have you ever tasted the falafel (also called taʿmiya in Egypt)? The latter is a common food across the entire Middle East. It consists of deep-fried balls, which are mainly made of chickpeas or fava beans (sometimes of both, if Bambi is not mistaken). It also includes herbs and spices like cumin and black pepper in addition to parsley, onions, coriander, garlic, flour, and vegetable oil.

It would have been magical if, instead of blood, tears and fear, all the innocent and tired people of the Middle East (on all sides and anywhere) could live with safety, dignity, prosperity, and with love. Yes, LOVE, along with peace… and endless opportunities to enjoy eating falafel with their loved ones.

Tragically, the above is far from being the reality of the Middle East, including Lebanon. Yes, sadly, innocent civilians, including children or youth, are losing their lives or are still being kidnapped, as Bambi is writing this post. Some are Canadians actually. As she is worried about the fate of her family and birth country, her fellow Canadians are (still) worried about the fate of their loved ones. Most likely like her, they are also sad to see the death of innocent lives. Same for her fellow Canadians of Palestinian origins. Their hearts are broken now over Gaza and the suffering of their loved ones. And what can she say about her fellow Canadians of Lebanese origins? They are also extremely concerned for the safety of their families, friends, and… their birth country (already in an extremely bad shape, economically speaking; and as a reminder, still without a President of the Republic and a new government for months now). Perhaps today more than ever with the deeply sad news of the deaths of children.

As usual, it is the civilians who are caught in the crossfire when rival entities are fighting each other. What Bambi finds sad while reading the news about demonstrations here and demonstrations there worldwide (including us in Canada), it is that none seems to consider the innocent civilians on all sides at the same time. No one deserves terror or wars. Everyone deserves love and peace of mind in life. Everyone deserves a minimum of economic security, including and especially Lebanon. Its people cannot take violence anymore. Is it too much to ask to live in a sustainable peace?

Anyhow, this post will not change anything to the harsh and scary reality of the threat of spread of war. As for you dear readers of this blog, Bambi will leave you now with two songs. The first is a light and joyful Falafel song, which she discovered three days ago while working (and listening to the radio). Although she was in a sad or worried mood about her loved ones abroad, this joyful Arabic song instantly made her smile, and even dance, in front of her screen. In turn, it is her hope that this melody will also succeed in entertaining you, despite your own worries. As for the second song, it is clearly badly needed. Is anyone listening among the decision-makers of the world who are playing with the fire of wars in the Middle East?

To conclude this post, may the memory of all those who lost their lives be eternal. Much love to their grieving families or injured relatives. Long live the falafel and light moments of life. May LOVE have the final word in our entire world, including the Middle East. May love and peace know how to find their ways back to people’s hearts. As for Lebanon specifically, Bambi prays that it be spared from the latest absurd collective insanity called war. May common sense, love, and peace prevail.

Today is not any day. How could it be when it is both Nina and Piia’s birthday? May they have wonderful times with their families and loved ones. Bambi loves them both a lot and considers herself blessed to call them friends.

Both Nina and Piia happen to be so talented in the French language (among other languages!) while sharing their special day with the late and eternal Joe Dassin. Thus, it is natural for Bambi to offer them a few of his songs. Happy Birthday Nina and Piia ❤️❤️!

As for you, dear Mr. Dassin, it feels a bit strange to realize that today you would have turned 85 had you been still alive (https://shorturl.at/vHU79). Your family, and the world of music, abruptly lost you when you were just 41 years old. Thank Goodness, your beautiful music outlives you. May your memory be eternal, perhaps today even more than ever. Much love and inner peace to your family. Same for your fans worldwide.