Bambi's Thoughts
Last year, Bambi paid tribute to Algeria-born and France-based Rachid Taha on his birthday anniversary, which was September 18. Today, she feels like honouring him again, but on his death anniversary, that is on September 12 (https://shorturl.at/lxyU5). Mr. Rachid Taha was a Rai singer and songwriter who died at age 59 from a heart attack. His unique music is a fusion of north African style with punk, rock, and techno.
Bambi does not want this day to end without remembering all the innocent victims who lost their lives on the surreal September 11, 2001 (https://shorturl.at/pBCDK). May their memories be eternal. More healing to their loved ones and to the US population in general as well as to the entire world who observed those terribly shocking and scary images of the attacks.
As human beings, may we all know how to come together to bring more love into our own hearts, daily lives, personal relationships, and… among nations. Yes, enough of wars. Enough of hatred. May peace prevail, in both our hearts and in the world, and may love triumph.
The above was the essence of Bambi’s thoughts and prayers concerning the commemoration of the 911 attacks. You may wonder now why is her Grandmother Asma mentioned in this post?
Well, from Asma who used to baby-sit Bambi and her sisters when their parents were away, many valuable life lessons were learned. One of them was related to the daily ghost of death in times of civil war. Grandmother Asma used to tell her granddaughters before they started their school days: make your bed each day because you do not know when you might die. Her idea was that our bed should be made just in case it is our last day of living and we do not know it yet.
Bambi recently thought about this thought when her mom died. The latter most likely did not know her time was going to arrive on the day she left our world. But what about the nearly 3,000 people who died in Lower Manhattan alone on that doomed September 11? Did some of them make their beds on that tragic morning? Bambi is asking because this day has been more recently declared as being: (1). A Patriotic Day (love of one’s country, especially when it is being attacked) and (2) Make Your Bed National Day (https://shorturl.at/aMUVZ). Of course, whomever decided on the latter had no clue who was Asma who lived in Beirut (Lebanon) and what was her bed-related advice. In other terms, such a day was just a mere coincidence.
Related to this coincidence of bed making or not, one can argue the following: who cares about beds in the face of death? Those of us who like to be organized or who are even obsessed about order might find wisdom in Asma’s words to her young granddaughters. Regardless, Bambi who adored her late grandmother got inspired by her in many ways. No wonder then that she still remembers her advice even at her age of 51 years old. Every morning, she pauses and tries to act on this advice. Did she say every morning? Perhaps not when a man is still sleeping in the bed she is leaving to go to work [hello Louis :)].
Robine is lucky to have had close ties with her wonderful cousins who live between Chicago in the United States of America and Latakieh in Syria. Indeed, Bambi has always been inspired by this family love. In turn, she loves her mom’s cousins with all her heart ❤️. We are truly blessed to be a family united by love and care with friendships across the generations of cousins.
Today, Nuha honoured her cousin Robine by dedicating a mass service at her St. John the Baptist Melkite Catholic Church in Northlake, Illinois. On page 7 of the following bulletin, one can read the following: “For the reposed in Christ our beloved departed, Robine Feani by Nuha Ferraye “. Bambi would like to thank Nuha from the bottom of her heart. She is also grateful to the priest of her church for the prayer.
At her mom’s funeral in Beirut a few days ago, Bambi was deeply moved when she saw Marouma, Amal (Nuha’s sister) and “Sousou” (Nuha’s niece). They came to say good-bye and pay tribute to their beloved Robine all the way from Syria. Indeed, they started their road trip to Beirut at 6 AM in order to make it on time for the funeral service, which was at 2 PM. They spent 2 hours at the border, if Bambi recalls well. Much love to them ❤️, along with a big hug.
To conclude this post, Bambi’s heart goes to Nuha and to all her immediate and extended family. At her mom’s funeral, she heard a lot of “El Massih Kam” [Christ is Risen]. Bambi replied “Hakan Kam” [Truly Risen]. May your/our beloved Robine be in a better place, welcomed by this Jesus she believed in all her life, and may her memory be eternal.
She does not know about you, but Bambi adores Mika. His wonderful song talks about life and death, absurdity, the living or aging process, love, and shared humanity. It raises deep questions, while even mentioning Lebanon, and defying the fear of living. The music is fun and the clip is sub-titled in English. Thank you Mika. Your song made Bambi think of her last week of August (between Athens and Beirut). What a surreal vacation time filled with BOTH joy and sorrow while being mixed with the essence of life… LOVE.
We learned recently from an article by Mr. Joseph Chiummiento, published in the National Post, that “a judge who had publicly supported speech-restricting rules opposed by Peterson” was “assigned to hear the case” (https://shorturl.at/EFG29).
How logical and how fair is that? We are not longer hiding the level of moral, mental, political, intellectual, and so-called professional corruption in Canada. Doesn’t it shock you, whether you agree with any point raised by Dr. Peterson or not, that the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) is “concerned” with the “manner” and “tone” of his comments? Why this level of censorship in our country?
Sadly in Lebanon, Judge Tarek Bitar has been regularly threatened since he was assigned to investigate the August 4 Beirut explosion. One is left to wonder why the Lebanese Judicial system managed to appoint an impartial judge whereas Canada seems to be more biased?
Good luck to Dr. Peterson in his appeal, hoping the Court of Appeal is less pre-determined.
Some declared days (no clue by whom) are highly important, raising awareness about this health condition or that historic event. Others seem odd or funny like today’s National Neither Snow Nor Rain Day, which coincides with the National Feel the Love Day.
Well, thankfully, love comes in all forms and all shapes. When it comes to maternal love, it starts before our birth, with our mothers bearing us in their womb for 9 months, and continues beyond their death. We keep feeling their never-ending love even if we miss them beyond words of any language.
Bambi and her sisters recently and abruptly lost their mom. Bambi knew that her mom chose her name and expected her birth, even when many told her she will have a baby boy. Without the convenience and reassurance of an ultrasound, Robine intuitively replied “it is a girl” (coming after two girls) “and her name is Bambi”. Now, with her death, Bambi discovered that her mom had two watches: one for Lebanon and the other for Canada. If this is not love of all her children, what is it then?
Just like the official name of this ending day, Bambi feels the energy of her mom around or within her. She also has vivid memory of the love of her larger family, friends, and all the community who came, in a large number, to pay tribute to her mom, to support her dad, and to give sympathy to their daughters. Back to Canada, Bambi was overwhelmed with the love of her circle of friends as well as her colleagues who kindly expressed their condolences with kind gestures of all sorts, calls, emails, beautiful flowers, cards, food or even the traditional coffee. Just now while preparing this post, past 9 PM (time to sleep), a delivery of flowers from dear friends arrived from Hamilton, Ontario. Wow, Bambi is speechless… Again, if this is not love, what is it then?
Death is part of life and the past ten days were a condensed version of this truth. Luckily, there is love in the equation of life and death. Thanks to love for transcending death. Thanks to music too to express love and gratitude. Bambi thanks everyone and sends her heart to all and prayer (with love) to the skies. Yes, to those we love who left us and this God (le bon Dieu) she happens to believe in deep in her heart. Life is tough at times. Yet it is always beautiful with our infinite capacity to chose and live by love. Love for others, love of oneself, which makes us take care and move forward despite the deepest sorrow.
She does not know why, but Bambi often bumps into famous people on airplanes, in hotels, or in pastry shops.
Well on her way back home from the Middle East, through Europe, she bumped into Mr. Patrick Fiori. Indeed, with a heavy heart (grieving her mom), upon getting out of the aircraft washroom, she bumped into Mr. Fiori. He was waiting to visit the same place she was leaving.
Bambi was too happily surprised that she only managed to get one word out of her impressed mouth. She said “WOW” twice in a row. Mr. Fiori replied: “Je vous en prie” 🙂 [it means: you are welcome]. Poor guy who must have thought he met the craziest deer on earth in the skies. Anyhow, despite her deep sorrow, seeing this much talented international Marseille-born singer made Bambi’s day (unless it was evening time in her jet-lagged brain?).
To end this brief post on a musical note, and if you wish, you may listen to Fiori singing in Corsican (his mother’s native language) and French. One of his French songs, which Bambi likes, is about Armenia (where his dad originally comes from).
Bambi’s dad is FULL of courage mixed with an inspiring love for his family. This song seems to be written by Grégoire specifically for him as he navigates his grief journey. It is entitled “Je t’envoie mon courage” [“I send you my courage“]. Merci papa ❤️. Thank you for being who you are. We all love you so much. Please take good care.
A few months ago, this blog featured Ms. Zeina Farah’ musical talent. Of course, there will be another post on Zeina’s songs, both joyful and spiritual ones.
This being said, a BIG thanks to Zeina for the Byzantine chant prayers at the funeral of Robine, Bambi’s mother. May her memory be eternal.
Ms. Farah’s pure voice, in which she put her heart and soul, was surely heard in heaven. Indeed, what a beautiful tribute to Bambi’s mom. Thank you.
In conclusion, Bambi will leave you with a Greek Orthodox Arabic prayer entitled “Ayouha l moutaraddi“, which is performed by Zeina. Bravo to her!
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Roula, Bambi’s eyes are filled with tears, reading your beautiful tribute to your mom. Thank you!
Roula’s French article, shown above and published in the L’Orient Le Jour today, can be found here: https://shorturl.at/iqyX1. Below is a quick English translation, thanks to Mr. Google Translate, Bambi’s loyal friend:
“To Robine Fiani Azar, my mother
Writing to you, I’ve done it hundreds of times, Mom, but never publicly. As you take off, I speak to you one last time, just to see your name printed in black and white before the eyes of the whole world. You who lived your life discreetly in the shadow of us all, you deserve the light.
I’ve missed you for a while now, Mom, long before your sudden departure, when my sisters and I and all your grandchildren were out of the country.
I’ve missed you for a while now, Mom, ever since this country tried so hard to drain you of your energy, your serenity, your joy of living, gradually killing you on a daily basis without mercy. Tired, you were, exhausted. From the explosion of August 4, 2020, the collapse of the pound, the shortage of medicines, the heat that the generators’ electrical supply was no longer able to adequately combat…
I miss you already, mom. Nothing will be the same without you. Now I must learn to live in your absence, to reinvent myself without your gaze. I also have to imagine new ways of communicating with you, of telling you that I love you, of feeling your presence, of seeing myself with your eyes.
I miss you already, mom. Nothing will be the same without you.
Your eldest“.
In conclusion, following Roula’s heartfelt tribute to our mom, Bambi would like to share two beautiful pictures of her parents, Antoine and Robine. These will be followed by: (1) words of wisdom transmitted to the family by Olga with love (Ontario, Canada); (2) a soothing Arabic song by Fairuz from the sweet Greta (Québec, Canada). The lyrics of the latter, which is entitled “I believe“, appear at the end of this post in English (https://shorturl.at/bckxJ); and (3) a prayer in French from Smith (Ontario, Canada). Lovely musical discoveries. Bambi will surely re-listen to these spiritual songs once back home. Thank you. Many thanks to all those who kindly shared poems and wise or sweet words (including you Sita from out of the Netherlands) 💜.
I believe (taken from: https://shorturl.at/depr2)
“I believe that behind the peaceful seeds
Heavens prosper
I believe that, behind the fierce night waves, there’s a bright lamp up high
I believe the the heart thrown in sorrow meets tenderness
I’m full of faith
I believe that, behind the hurricane air, there are lips that recite the prayer
I believe that, in the silence of the enclosed universe, there is someone who listens to me
If my eyes ever aspire to the sky, the lights clear and the tunes get higher
I’m full of faith”.
