I don't have a recipe for you today. I hope that's okay. The days pass by so quickly lately. Life is good and full, but nonetheless, or maybe precisely because of that, I've felt death lurking.

The other day, though – it was a Sunday, I know, because Max was home and playing music on the stereo – the three of us were spending time in the living room together when a song came on that propelled me to my feet. The music simply possessed me. I couldn't not move. As I twirled and swayed and danced, I closed my eyes, imagining myself in the desert of Mali with this song filling the black night. I imagined seeing a canopy of stars above me, a crowd of humanity beside me, joy in my heart. And when I opened my eyes to my life here again, I saw that Max had wordlessly taken Hugo up in his arms and they were dancing with me, the three of us moving together as the magical sounds of the music filled our apartment and made my heart so full that my cheeks were drenched when it was over.

 

It was just a funny little thing, but I'll never forget it. And when I went to find the translation of the lyrics to the song that so moved me (sung originally in the Tuareg language of Tamashek), this is what I found:

I am telling you, love
As it was
My darling, as it was

This time here
Love is everyone’s worry
From the bottom of their soul
Without knowing
What to do
.

Take good care, dearest readers. More soon. xo

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30 responses to “Bombino’s Timiditine”

  1. Bérangère Bouffard Avatar

    Love this! This simple post. The music!
    It fits the vibe of today which is finally warm and sunny. Thanks for sharing this! 🙂

    Like

  2. Gillian Avatar

    Love this! I lived in Niger for years and years. This is a sound of home.

    Like

  3. Victoria Avatar
    Victoria

    Thank you, Luisa. Twirling here with wet cheeks…. it must be all the re-birth of spring that brings out the sweet and sad together.

    Like

  4. Katrin Avatar
    Katrin

    Thank you….I needed this today!

    Like

  5. Denise | Chez Danisse Avatar

    What a beautiful moment. Thank you for sharing it her.

    Like

  6. Gerlinde Avatar

    So very touching, thanks for sharing.

    Like

  7. dervla Avatar

    aww lovely – those moments are so special and it’s so hard to recreate that feeling – it just naturally comes and goes. Love the power of music (and little Hugos)

    Like

  8. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    This is such a beautiful post. Dancing like a dervish with your loved ones – it’s always the small things that are the biggest and best though isn’t it! Wow! Hope your week goes great Luisa x

    Like

  9. Zoomie Avatar

    You are forgiven for having no kitchen recipe, because you gave us a little recipe for love and joy.

    Like

  10. Amy Avatar

    One of the best posts I’ve ever read

    Like

  11. heather Avatar
    heather

    you are a cool lady!

    Like

  12. Elizabeth Mars Avatar
  13. Mojca Avatar
    Mojca

    A different post about a moment – and music – worth sharing. Perfect for spring sunshine, for always really. On my playlist already. Keep writing & sharing, keep being inspired and have a wonderful spring!

    Like

  14. Piisa Avatar
    Piisa

    No recipe? This is a great recipe.

    Like

  15. Jessica Avatar

    This is perfect—or as close to getting there.

    Like

  16. Shauna Avatar

    WHAT, THERE IS SOMETHING IN MY EYE.
    Thank you for this beautiful post, friend. Sometimes a short little snippet in time is the most profound thing to share. I wish I could be so perfectly succinct! xo

    Like

  17. Jacqui Avatar

    This is one of my favorite posts you’ve written. Thanks for sharing this beautiful song, but more for sharing from your heart, as you do so well.

    Like

  18. Amanda Avatar

    This brought me so much delight on a day I definitely needed it.
    I love how your blog reflects the messiness, hard times, and great joys in life. am re-reading your book, by the way, so lots of love & thanks from a total stranger! 🙂

    Like

  19. Brooke Stanley Avatar
    Brooke Stanley

    SO needed this today – thank you, thank you, thank you.

    Like

  20. Shelly Avatar
    Shelly

    As has been said many times here before, thank you for this inspiring music. It didn’t know about him/them. I will look and listen more.

    Like

  21. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Are you ok? I’m concerned about you as you said you felt death lurking. Please know that your readers care about you.

    Like

  22. Luisa Avatar

    Oh dear, that’s not at all what I meant. I don’t know if it’s my age or Hugo or the recent unexpected/premature deaths of a dear family member and a young acquaintance (or all of it put together), but the fleetingness and preciousness of life has felt really vivid to me lately. Thanks for your sweet concern, though!

    Like

  23. Olivia Avatar
    Olivia

    A beautiful post. It’s my dad’s birthday tomorrow & this the perfect song to send to him. Thank you.

    Like

  24. Honeybee Avatar
    Honeybee

    That’s a beautiful post, thank you. I get that feeling, too, sometimes.
    I find it amazing how your blog is so meaningful and “new” (can’t find a better word to describe it just now) after all those years. Your way with words is a true gift.

    Like

  25. Terry Covington Avatar
    Terry Covington

    One time I had fallen asleep listening to the radio. I dreamed that a lover had come — someone I had never met, yet knew in my soul — and taken me in his arms and danced me across a meadow to a row of pine trees. Then we kept dancing, up into the air, spinning around, to the tops of the trees — it was the most complete feeling of love and peace I have known, and reassurance. I woke up, and the radio was playing a song I’d never heard. I looked on the radio station playlist, and it was “Embrace,” by Shastro. Strange, isn’t it? A couple of years after that, I met the person — or am convinced I did — who was in my dream. We were together for more than 10 years. I can never hear that music without feeling that magic. Obviously you and your family were moved, together, in the same sort of way. This post brought me to tears; happy ones. Thank you.

    Like

  26. Beth Avatar

    Wonderful post. Enlightens the moment xx

    Like

  27. Emma Anderson @ Maldives hotels Avatar

    Love the lyrics, so simple and very touching.. Thumbs up.

    Like

  28. Mercedes Avatar

    Aww, I love Bombino! We’ve been lucky to go to some great Tuareg music concerts while living in Algeria, and there’s nothing quite like hearing music like this played late into the night with a bunch of Tuaregs dancing around you. If you like this I’d recommend checking out the band Babylone, the Malian group Tartit, and obviously Tinariwen. (Sadly our dreams of going to the festival in the desert had to be postponed due to the war and security issues.)

    Like

  29. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    My toddler and I danced in the kitchen to this. Such a lovely song. And congratulations on the upcoming book!

    Like

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