Happy Birthday Bente!

Life is full of blessings, thankfully.

Bente is surely one of the HIGHLY significant precious life blessings for both Bambi and her spouse.

Indeed, it is hard for Bambi to put in writing how much they love her (and love her adorable family too)! Same for our entire shared family, across the miles in different continents… and in heaven too.

How can Bambi describe Bente to those of you who do not know her? Well, no word in any language can express who she is as a WONDERFUL person/young woman. She is independent, intelligent, highly resourceful, caring, talented in so many matters, including drawing, painting, cooking, etc. She speaks several languages and is skilled in intercultural as well as interpersonal relationships. After all, there is a reason why everyone loves Bente :). On this note, Bambi will stop in order to wish the latter, a superb birthday and year ahead in music!! Yes, have fun Bente ❤️!!

“Enfants de tous pays” [Children from all countries]: thanks to Mr. Enrico Macias’ for his eternally inspiring song about love and hope

Children from all countries (https://shorturl.at/jtxz7)

“Chorus:”Chorus:

Children from all countries

Hold out your bruised hands

Sow love

And then give life

Children from all countries

And of all colours

You have in your hearts

Our happiness

It’s in your hands that tomorrow our earth

Is entrusted to go out from the night

And our hope to see the light again

Is in your eyes which are awakening to life

Dry your tears, throw out your guns

Make of this world a paradise

Chorus

You have to think of our fathers’ past

And of promises which they have never kept

The truth is loving without any borders

And giving every day a bit more

For wisdom and wealth

Have only one address: paradise

Chorus

And on the day when love on the Earth

Becomes king, you can rest

When our prayers are covered in joy

You can have your eternity

And every laughter of your kingdom

Will make of this world a paradise

Chorus”.

Ms. Marie-Élaine Thibert: isn’t her voice amazing?

Fond of Ms. Marie-Élaine Thibert’s voice, Bambi posted her music on this blog in the past. For those of you who may not know her, she is a highly talented and moving Canadian singer from Québec (https://shorturl.at/cpBFU).

As a treat for herself, that is before anyone else, tonight Bambi would like to share two performances by Ms. Thibert, namely: Mr. Jacques Brel’s “La Quête” [“The Quest”], which is a song about the pursuit of an impossible dream, and Ms. Édith Piaf’s L’Hymne à l’Amour, which is a hymn to love.

With these beautiful French songs, this brief post will end with the following wishes to all: may you follow your dreams while learning when and how to dream new ones, as needed. Regardless of the world’s darkness or life challenges, may you dream, be, and spread love around you. May this love come back to you in many meaningful ways.

Today is Olga’s birthday, which would have been Mr. Gilbert Bécaud’s big day!

Happy Birthday to Olga from Bambi and her spouse!

Olga is family, not just a close and inspiring friend.

Yes, Olga is a DEAR friend as well as the mother of friends.

Bambi is blessed to have Olga in her life. For those who do not know her, she has a big and a generous heart, a sharp mind, and a sense of humour. Of note, she is filled with creativity and artistic skills (e.g., drawing, painting, writing beautiful words, cooking, etc.). She is an inspiring spouse, mother, and grandmother.

This being said, as usual, this post would not be complete if it does not end in music, including a few songs by Mr. Gilbert Bécaud with whom Olga shares her special day. For those who have never heard of him, Mr. Bécaud was a GREAT French composer, pianist, singer, and actor who lived from 1927 (October 24) to 2001 (December, 18) (https://shorturl.at/qCU35). Bambi likes his songs a lot.

May the magic of music entertain and brighten your days, dearest Olga. May God bless your heart filled with love. Thank you for being a faithful reader of this blog, for having enriched the latter with a highly supportive comment during its saga of censorship, for your continuous care, and positive vibes/prayers for Bambi’s family abroad. Everyone is grateful and we all love you, especially Bambi ❤️!

Mr. Nicola Ciccone: thanks for your still timely song, which is a call for love. Is anyone listening on all sides of all conflicts in the world, including the Middle East?

“They are more than six billion

And we are only two

To want love

Be the greatest of the gods

They say we are crazy

That we do blasphemy

But we stay standing

We never believe them

They are more than six billion

And we are only two

To see that all these wars

Only serve heinous acts

They say we are cowardly

That they will put chains on us

But despite all their rages

We choose peace

Of course there are days

Where we lose heart

Of course there are days

Where we shipwreck

But despite all these days

Despite all these outrages

We believe that one day

That one fine day

They are more than six billion

And we are only two

To believe that all men

Have the right to be happy

They say we are deaf

That hell is on earth

But despite their insults

We believe in tomorrow

Of course there are days

Where we lose heart

Of course there are days

Where we shipwreck

But despite all these days

Despite all these outrages

We believe that one day

That one fine day

We will be six billion

And they will be nothing

We will unite our dreams

Our joys and our paths

We will go without detours

Rediscover the light

We will be six billion

And they will be nothing

Nothing“.

Good-bye migrating birds!

In the Atlantic Canadian province of New Brunswick, and especially in Sackville, the fall season is full of charm. Indeed, we can appreciate the amazing colourful leaves, the impressive half-naked trees, and especially fascinating singing birds getting ready for a LONG journey in which they fly south for the winter.

Of note, about 300 migratory bird species leave us each year for warmer climates (https://shorturl.at/juRTV). However, despite the GREAT distances travelled, they remain loyal to Canada: billions of these migrating birds return home in the spring. How sweet it is to welcome their sounds again, see them in our/their skies, and to know that they will be home again with all of us for a long time.

In this post, Bambi will share a few pictures she took last Friday evening as well as a brief video featuring some birds’ sounds. She will end with two songs. The first famous melody is entitled “Asfour” [Bird in Arabic]. This song is originally by Mr. Marcel Khalife; we can hear Ms. Aliya Cycon playing the oud (oriental guitar) and singing this lovely song: she starts with her own English translation and ends with the original Arabic. Bravo to her for this uniquely beautiful performance! As for the second song, subtitled in English and entitled “Deux oiseaux” [Two Birds in French], it is by the talented Ms. France Gall. Long live all birds. Good-bye to them… until next spring!

Sackville Waterfowl Park (NB, Atlantic Canada). A picture taken by Bambi.
Sackville Waterfowl Park (NB, Atlantic Canada).
A picture taken by Bambi.
Sackville Waterfowl Park (NB, Atlantic Canada).
A picture taken by Bambi.
Sackville Waterfowl Park (NB, Atlantic Canada).
A picture taken by Bambi.
Sackville Waterfowl Park (NB, Atlantic Canada).
A picture taken by Bambi.
Sackville Waterfowl Park (NB, Atlantic Canada).
A picture taken by Bambi.

How can we be sweet with each other?

Have a sweet one!

Once again, Bambi is unsure who comes up with national or international days of this or that. Regardless, today is called “Sweetest Day“, which is all about being “sweet by sharing a kind thought, a small gift or a gesture of kindness” (https://shorturl.at/vBKV3).

Of course, there is nothing sweet in wars and terror. Same for the violence of mobbing, bullying, or any aggression to any innocent people. However, even in such extreme situations, humanity, generosity, and kindness can manifest itself.

To conclude this brief post, Bambi will leave you with the words of the Persian poet, Rumi, who wrote: “Find the sweetness in your own heart, then you may find the sweetness in every heart”. Food for thought for the day, which will be followed by a matching song on friendship. Of note, we do not have to be close friends, relatives, or from the so-called same tribe to treat others as our friends in humanity. This being said, have a sweet one everyone!


Happy National Louie Day to Louis!

Cheers to all those called Ludwig, Louie, Louis, Lewis, Lou, Lew, and… Louisa!

Did you know that today is the National Louie Day (https://shorturl.at/bdwLR)? Yes, today is the day “on which everyone gathers to praise and honour every person with the name Louie that exists” (https://shorturl.at/bdwLR).

Given the above, and because he deserves it [and no she is not biased :)], Bambi would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Louis, her spouse!

Louis’ name is pronounced like Louie, but written with its French variant, Louis. The choice of his beautiful name was a loving compromise between his anglophone dad and his francophone mom.

Indeed, “Louie is a slight variation of the name Louis. This is a name of French origin, Latinized from the German name ‘Ludwig,’ which means “renowned warrior.” The most popular variants of Louie include Lewis, Lou, Lew, and Louisa, a feminine form of the name [hello to Luisa, if she happens to be reading now :)!] (https://shorturl.at/bdwLR).

Of note, “Louie’s are found primarily in English-speaking areas, such as England, New Zealand, and even the Dutch-speaking country of the Netherlands. Its popularity has also risen significantly in the nordic country Sweden” (https://shorturl.at/bdwLR).

For some of you who love fiction, you may perhaps already know that the Simpsons include a mafia member called “Louie”. Same for one of Donald Duck‘s nephews (https://shorturl.at/bdwLR).

As far as Bambi is concerned, she is a fan of French actor/comedian Louis de Funès (https://shorturl.at/opP79). Of course, indepedent of comedy, the name “Louis” means a lot to her since it is the street where her dad’s store is located in Lebanon. Long live Azar Electric on Saint-Louis’ street in Beirut, as per the older post below.

French actor Louis de Funès.
A picture found on the internet.

To conclude this post, Bambi would like to offer Louis two songs and a brief YouTube video featuring Louis de Funès in both English and French. Happy national name day, Luigi!

Kids United with Corneille: Heal the world

Today, more than ever, our world needs both healing and love.

Spreading love and indulging in healing; not in violence or hatred.

Thanks to Corneille who knows the true meaning of healing, personal growth despite the horror, and love in his private and public lives.

Thanks also To Kids United for their beautiful voices blending together to increase the potential healing power of music.