Bambi's Thoughts
Sometimes we go to sleep with a melody on our mind.
We may wake up with that same melody.
Well, this is the song that was on Bambi’s mind since yesterday.
This song even came out of her mouth several times. Luckily she was by herself most of that time. It is safer for everyone’s ears :).
Anyhow, she hopes you will enjoy Ms. Talia Lahoud’s unique version of Fairuz’ Ya Ana Ya Ana song, which is the symphony # 40 of Mozart!
Bambi would like to start by thanking her dear friend Spencer for sharing an amusing video entitled “How Lebanese people calculate time” by the talented Mr. Mark Hachem (Montreal, Québec) ❤️!
In addition, she is grateful for Spencer for adding: “I have always found you punctual. I guess you adjusted to Canadian time” :). Bambi will add “Yes maybe… perhaps minus Air Canada time“. OK, of course, she is not talking about storms, post-storm, and pandemic times. They are a headache to everyone. Her joke is more general.
Seriously now, Spencer is right. When Bambi started to travel to Lebanon in her early twenties, relatives, friends, or neighbours almost all used to tease her when she would knock on their door by saying: “Ahla bi el Canadieh!” [Welcome to the Canadian!]; Indeed, she was always on time even when still jet lagged. Here at home, she is even almost always ahead of time to the point o having to wait in cars before a visit; it would be impolite to arrive a few minutes early :).
Anyhow, the topic of time was also the focus of an earlier post entitled “To what extent do you value time, yours and others‘?”, shared further below.
To end the current post on a musical note, here is a passionate performance of “Avec le temps…” [With time…”] by an incredibly talented 28-year-old man, Mr. Robin, during the French blind auditions of “The Voice“. Isn’t he heart-warming?
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“El Massih Kam” [Christ is Risen], mom and dad (et al.) :)! Yes, it is Easter weekend (again) at your end: may it bring JOY to you hearts and a MUCH needed resurrection to your Lebanon. For fun, Bambi would like to offer you three songs today by the talented and uplifting Ms. Talia Lahoud.
The first melody is a Fairouz song called “Emy namet wa bakir” [My mom went to bed early], sub-titled in English. It makes Bambi think of you each time she hears its start: it is about a daughter who escaped from her room window to attend a party. Although slightly different, Bambi knows a better love story involving two young ones and a vespa 🙂 ❤️.
OK, guess what it your second song now? It is a Shorts video of La Vie en Rose in Arabic, French, and English. Again, this song is making Bambi think of you. Please tell her if this place in which Ms. Lahoud is singing is in Beirut, precisely near that beautiful church (or cathedral?) where you got married?!
Last but not least, your third song is definitely taped from one of those beautiful stairs in Beirut, not too far from where you live and across from the port of the city. It is a love song, which Bambi adores. She introduced it on this blog in the past, “Khidni Maak” [Take me with you], as shown further below.
Almost every time Bambi saw or took the stairs mentioned above, in the past 33 years while visiting Lebanon, she recalled her childhood/youth memories with friends or alone; often in joy, but once in a fearful moment under a sudden heavy shelling. She often also thought of you two, wondering if you had also played on those same stairs. Her last visit there was in July 2022 with her sisters and a cousin. It was sad to witness the after-effects or hear horrible stories of the 2020 Beirut port explosion.
To end this post on a joyful note, long live your long love story and the seeds and roots of hope [“rajaa” in Arabic or “espérance” in French] in your hearts, dear mom and dad ❤️ ❤️ . Happy Easter again!
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With a melting heart, and even if she already celebrated Easter with the majority last week, Bambi thanks her friend Greta for sharing a spiritual moment at a church in Montreal (Québec), which she used to visit on such an evening during 15 years (before moving to Toronto, Ontario). For her, it is moving to hear the beautiful Greek Orthodox, sad yet hopeful, melody of her childhood in Beirut. In the video shared below, she was also happy to see the priest who happens to be a family friend (hello “Abouna” or “Père” Michel :)).
In addition to Greta mentioned above, Bambi would like to also thank Rita for sharing a similar beautiful moment from a church in Washington, USA. Same for Zeina from Beirut, Lebanon. How sweet of you all to think of your friend and cousin in Sackville, New Brunswick. You know how much she loves the Byzantine chants and, like you all, her heart cannot be indifferent to the beautiful story of Jesus, whether we call him an ordinary man, a good guy or… the Messiah.
May this season be a blessed one to all ❤️.
To begin with, this blog has recently honoured Ms. Céline Dion tiwce, as shared further shown. The current post will begin by sharing Dion’s new Love Again song available on YouTube and via in all the Canadian and international media.
Indeed, according to the CBC, “the title track from an upcoming film where she plays a supporting role. The gentle ballad is one of five new Dion songs that appear on the film’s soundtrack, which arrives on May 12” (https://bit.ly/3MHkhJx). Furthermore, “Love Again tells the story of a woman who finds solace from the sudden death of her fiancé by texting his old cellphone number, only to find a new connection with a different man who had the number reassigned to him” (https://bit.ly/3MHkhJx).
What a lovely coincidence for Bambi as this morning she had the chance to briefly discuss the exact theme of this song with a dear friend. The capacity to love, after a loss by death or by a tough breakup is thankfully always possible, contrary to what we may think when our hearts are shattered into a thousand pieces. Indeed, with time, increased healing, peace of mind, and of course readiness, our grieving hearts can be unlocked for love, and even for happiness, again… and yet again.
Whether you are a fan of Ms. Céline Dion’ music or not, whether you will like her new song or not, Bambi will join her voice to yours in shouting: BRAVO for your artistic come back, Céline! With this song, you also likely give hope to people living with your rare health condition.
Now, to conclude this musical post, Bambi will share a performance by a 13-year-old Swedish-Lebanese singer who happens to be a BIG fan of our Céline, according to L’Orient Le Jour (https://bit.ly/3MHS3hX). Indeed, what a wonderful interpretation of “The Power of Love“, which was originally sang by Ms. Jennifer Rush then by made even more famous with Ms. Céline Dion. This performance took place on the “Talang Sverige” [Sweden Got Talent] show on January 19, 2023. Bambi just discovered this great Youtube video tonight while preparing this post. Of note, Ms. Jennifer Aoun made it all the way to the finals of this famous TV show (https://bit.ly/43Az4fs). BRAVO! If Bambi is not mistaken, the winner, who is a magician, is Mr. Pontus Lindman (https://bit.ly/43v6ZGd). Cool!
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April 13 is a day of mixed feelings, both sad and happy. Indeed, it is the 48th anniversary of the Lebanese civil war, which lasted from 1975 to 1990. Yet, this day is a beautiful day on which Rita, one of Bambi’s precious childhood friends, was born in Beirut.
While remembering war, Bambi will now devote this strictly musical post to Rita. Of note, one of this blog’s recent posts was also devoted to the same friend, as shown further below.
Today, as a birthday tribute to Rita, Bambi will offer her a few songs. She hopes that some English, French, and Spanish melodies will make her smile while others will make her pause to honour her birth country in both Arabic (with Mr. Marcel Khalifé) and French (with Mr. Mario Pelchat). Sadly, Lebanon remains an unfinished dream country, which is currently bankrupt. Last but not least, Bambi found a YouTube surprise-melody of a mysterious guy who keeps calling Rita’s name : ) as well as a kids’ song , which honours friends.
To conclude, Happy Birthday to dearest “Ratrout” [Little Rita, in Lebanese-Arabic] ❤️! This old friendship has enriched Bambi’s life while growing up in Beirut. It is now connecting her with Rita across the borders of their respective host and beautiful countries, Canada and the United States of America.
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Two days ago, Bambi paid tribute to Mr. Gilbert Montagné, as shown in the post further below. Today, thanks to YouTube, she discovered a masterpiece of “La vie en rose” [“Life in Pink” in reference to the rose-tinted glasses, which make us perceive the world more lightly when we are in love].
The fun part was that Ms. Léa Désandre surprised Mr. Montagné with his preferred Piaf’s song. Her pure voice singing “La vie en rose” is not only moving, but also uplifting. If you watch the video until the end of her performance, you can appreciate a spontaneous duo of the two great artists.
May the memory of Ms. Édith Piaf be eternal like her songs. Long live love in all its forms and shapes. Long live music!
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Mr. Gibran Khalil Gibran died 92 years ago, precisely on April 10, 1931.
In the Garden of the Prophet, Mr. Gibran expressed his sadness to see Lebanon divided into tribes, instead of being unified: “Pity the nation divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation“.
Unfortunately, many in Gibran’s and in Bambi’s birth country still put their “tribe” first. The latter can be one’s religion and/or political affiliation.
Tragically, in today’s North America, we see a comparable danger, stemming from modern identity politics, where societal forces seem to insist on defining us by our identity and to trap us into it. We are no longer uniquely rich individuals. We are a mere extension of our skin colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, etc.
Bambi’s heart aches because we do not seem to want to recall the lessons history tried to teach us about the danger of playing with identity politics while forgetting how to love one another. Will we pay the price for this collective amnesia one day? Or will we wake up to re-learn to treat ourselves and thus others with respect, love, unite, and… to put our country, not ideologies, first?
Mr. Gilbert Montagné, Bambi just discovered a masterpiece on YouTube, which is 12 years old. What a performance!
Thank you for singing Piaf in this most moving way. If she may, Bambi would like to offer your version of her “hymn to love” to all the lovers of the world.
For the translation of the lyrics of this eternal song, Bambi did not have to bother her friend Mr. Google Translate. She found the English lyrics at this site: https://bit.ly/3GuAdv8 .
“The blue sky over us can collapse on itself
and the ground can (really) cave in.
Little matters to me if you love me
I couldn’t care less about the whole world
As long as love will flood my mornings
As long as my body will tremble under your hands
The problems make little difference to me
My love, because you love me.
I will go to the end of the world
I will dye my hair blond
If you ask me to
I will go take down the moon
I will steal fortune
if you ask me to
I will renounce my country
I will renounce my friends
if you ask me to
One could really laugh at me
I will do anything
if you ask me to
if one day life tears you away from me
if you die than you will be far from me
what’s it matter if you love me
because I will die too
We will have for us, eternity
in the blue of all the immensity
in heaven, no more problems
my love do you believe that we love each other
God, reunite those who love each other”.
Easter is almost here…. May it be a Soothing Easter! To the readers of this blog who happen to believe or care, Bambi will say in Arabic “Al Massih Kam” [Christ is Risen]!
Yes, Easter is surely almost here. However, SADLY, Joey’s Italian Restaurant & Bar is no longer among us in Sackville, NB (https://bit.ly/3ZTsRb2). Same for the jobs of some of our fellow citizens, the apartments of five young and older adult residents, and a historic building (Bambi is thinking of its landlord now).
If she may, Bambi would like to use this post to send her heart to all those directly affected by the fire tragedy, their loved ones, and literally all of us by extension. Can you imagine losing your apartment, precious personal items, business, and jobs all of a sudden?
Yes, Bambi is thinking of all the Joey‘s actual family as well as its “family” of staff, including you Roxane (if you ever happen to be reading this post one day. It was an honour to have the chance to wave and receive back a heartfelt hello from you in the parking lot a few days ago only). Of course, Bambi’s thoughts are also with all Joey’s clients over 35 years of existence (including you Azi who wrote a beautiful tribute on the Warktimes), all those who worked hard to extinguish the fire (from Sackville and even beyond it), and ALL those who have been offering a much needed support to those affected by the disaster. Bravo to all of them.
All this being said, perhaps the piece of good news of this tragedy and its big losses is that no one was physically injured. For this, Bambi will say: Thank God… and thanks also to our clever firefighters!
To come back to Joey’s Restaurant, it has/had been (hopefully will re-become?!) a monument, not just a successful business in Sackville, NB, since 1988. The words of its owner reported in the Warktimes (https://bit.ly/3ZTsRb2) and in the mainstream media are inspiring, to say the least: From out of the early moments of his business tragedy, the owner wrote on social media: “As we navigate this difficult transition one thing is sure, we will keep the spirit of Joey’s alive as we move forward one day at a time“. Yes, the spirit of Joey’s will be eternal. We will keep honouring it, along with beautiful memories we all had at your restaurant… please consider it like a collective promise.
Related to the above, Bambi and her family/friends, in Canada and in Beirut are all sad, especially her spouse and her parents who visited Sackville, and its Joey’s, during their last four trips back to Canada. Bambi et al. share everyone’s sorrow and stand in full solidarity with all those affected by this disaster.
Bearing the above in mind, this post will now end with an Easter Youtube video link Bambi received from a friend last year [hello Nadim : )]. The scene occurred at a mall in Beirut a few years ago. It was a celebration of Easter with a Byzantine joyful brief chant in both Arabic and Greek. It may seem a bit odd to watch such a spiritual expression in a public place like a mall. However, this is the Middle East, from which Christianity originated. Plus, it is maybe amusing to witness the happy reactions of people. Bambi can surely relate to their joy in singing “El Massih kam” [Christ is risen]! Even if she celebrates with the majority where she currently lives, next week she will surely rejoice again :). Indeed, whether we use the Gregorian (this weekend) or the Julian calendar (next weekend), whether the two events overlap or not, Easter is ONE celebration! The joy expressed in this video is all what Easter is about; yes, this is the case before the eggs, chocolate, the maamoul desert, the meals with family or friends, etc. Bambi is saying so and God knows how much she adores all the latter :)!
