Ficus religiosa

Strong willed, courageous, stoic, optimistic and full of love for life, Maryse, when faced with difficulties, however seemingly insurmountable, always found solace in her strongest belief in spiritual support. Non denominational, Maryse however had bias towards her far East heritage, and she sought inner strength from trusted deities. Burning incense was often her way of finding escape from the darkest hours that she sometimes faced. Those precious moments brought her peace of mind to continue caring for her loved ones.

A commemorative tree is in the planning to be planted in her memory. If asked, she would have certainly chosen her favorite tree, one which she has in her garden: a Bodhi tree, whose scientific name is "Ficus religiosa."

Compiègne

About 37 miles Northeast of Paris is "La Forêt de Compiègne (The forest of Compiègne)," our favorite retreat to solitude, away from the hustle and bustle of Parisian life. This forest is roughly circular with a diameter of about 9 miles; approximately 58 miles in circumference with an area of about 35,620 acres. La Forêt de Compiègne has beautiful oak trees among beech, hornbeam and the North American black cherry tree. We went there quite often, just the two of us. The forest was always deserted and we found ourselves always alone, just the two of us. It had many species of wild flowering plants among small lakes, ponds brooks and springs. We went there a few times every year, during different seasons. We thought that we owned the forest to ourselves because we never saw any other souls during all the times we were inside the forest. Every Spring, we go there to look for Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis,) which were very hard to find. This forest is the location where I got the best photos of Maryse, and the best lilies, always for her. The scent of wild Lily of the Valley is by far the best fragrance of my memory and none of the world's most famous perfume can ever match its essence.

Burn It Blue

It has been three months since December 17th, 2010...
To Maryse... with love.

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Burn It Blue
Music: Elliot Goldenthal Lyrics: Julie Taymor
Vocalist: Caetano Veloso And Lila Downs

Burn this house
Burn it blue
Heart running on empty
So lost without you

But the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she’s free to fly…

Woman so weary
Spread your unbroken wings
Fly free as the swallow sings
Come to the fireworks
See the dark lady smile
She burns…

And the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she’s free to fly…

Burn this night
Black and blue
So cold in the morning
So cold without you

And the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she’s free to fly

Y la noche que se incendia,
Y la cama que se eleva,
A volar…

And of the dark days
Painted in dark gray hues
They fade with the dream of you
Wrapped in red velvet
Dancing the night away
I burn…

Midnight blue
Spread those wings
Fly free with the swallows
Fly one with the wind

Y ella es flama que se eleva,
Y es un pajaro a volar
Y es un pajaro a volar
En la noche que se incendia,
El infierno es este cielo
Estrella de oscuridad

And the night sky blooms with fire
And the burning bed floats higher
And she ’s free to fly
Just a spark in the sky
Painting heaven and hell
Much brighter

Burn this house
Burn it blue
Heart running on empty
So lost without you

A Certain Smile

Aristocratic and discreet, not too many people have the chance to catch this rare and thus precious smile from her heart. This was at 30 Rue de Campo Formio, in the 13th "arrondissement" of Paris where we walked a thousand times the beautiful tree lined Boulevard de l'Hopital to get to Place d'Italie, or to return from a late night outing from the Nationale metro station to the South. We knew this area so well I can still see it in my dreams and I can hear our foot steps on the deserted nocturnal boulevard.

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Vocalist: Johnny Mathis
A Certain Smile

A certain smile, a certain face,
can lead an unsuspecting heart on a merry chase.
A fleeting glance can say so many lovely things,
suddenly you know why my heart sings.

You love a while and when love goes,
you try to hide the tears inside with a cheerful pose.
But in the hush of night exactly like a bittersweet refrain,
comes that certain smile to haunt your heart again.