My Family History
Trace your ancestors and then immortalise them!
hoa tím lục bình_5 / purple hyacinth flowers
Once, we sang together on Earth, now you are both singing in Heaven. God Bless You.
I cannot describe how those few words hit me. I wasn't prepared for them, nor had I understood the seriousness of poor Firefly's illness. My sense of both shock and grief was extraordinary. Of course, one is sad at the loss of any person that one knows. But I hardly knew Firefly. A lady, thousands of miles away in Vietnam, whom I had met in a virtual reality room at Paltalk, where we both sang songs, as did others in the room. Her kindness to me and support during those visits had so touched me. The more I looked at the finality of those words, the more I felt the loss. My grief over the past four days seemed to have been as deep as I'd ever known.
So, I started this webpage, in memory of Firefly, on the day I read of her passing. Only now, have I finally written this introduction. Just looking at the three pictures above, and the three images below, has helped me to collect my thoughts, and to try to make sense of the past four days. It's as if Time has stood still. Firefly made the effort to make her Paltalk Profile interesting, and consequently, her pictures made it possible for me to put up this webpage immediately. Thank you Firefly. : )
It is now 3 months later, and Firely and I have made this page
into a beautiful little home. It has grown, week by week with many additions since
I started this introduction. However something has just happened that has made
Firefly and me so very sad. Yesterday, I heard, from the same lady who told me
of firefly's passing, that a dear friend of hers and of firefly, had also
passed away. Hoa tím lục bình died on
September 8. The news came as a great shock to me, and I felt a deep sadness
for Hoa as I had felt for Firefly. Two ladies that had been so welcoming to me
in their music room back in January, had gone to Heaven within 3 months of each
other.
It was decided that Hoa Tim should be remembered in the
same way as Firefly has been, and that she should share our little home. I
haven't been able to find any photographs of Hoa Tim, therefore all the photos
here are still just of Firefly. Hoa Tim, welcome to our home where I know you will be very
happy. Once we were two here, now we are three. :o) :o) :o)
Here is Minh Xuan singing a lovely song called "Dom Dom"
Đom đóm đâu ra chiều hôm thật nhiều
Tiền đồn ven biên anh vừa lên phiên đổi gác
Từng bày đom đóm như thấp sáng kỷ niệm của chúng ta
Ngày xa xưa chơi trò đi trốn nhau
Cho em đi tìm gọi anh Đom Đóm ơi
Anh khéo nên em thường hay giận hờn
Một lần anh thua em trèo lên trên ngọn khế
Nào ngờ mưu kế đem đom đóm anh cài lên tóc em
Từ đêm đen lập lòe đom đóm bay
Em anh đây rồi nên vẫn khen anh tài ghê.
Dòng thời gian xuôi mãi cuộc vui xưa kết nên tình hương lửa ba sinh Bạn bè thân hứa trước đi đám cưới đôi mình
Cặp đèn màu hoa Trúc
Nào ngờ đâu mơ ước tựa như sương khói tan
Dần trong nắng ban mai
Chỉ còn câu ước cuối non nước sắp thanh bình
Cho mình lại tay trong thấy nhau.
Xa cách em lo tình kia nhạt nhòa
Chiều chiều ra sân em còn trông phương trời thắm
Nhìn bày đom đóm anh có nhớ khung trời hoa bướm xưa
Còn riêng em phương này vẫn ước mơ
Anh gọi lại đom đóm ơi như ngày xưa...!!!
It's so wonderful !
Together each night for 5 years
Friends Forever More.
1. My first meeting with Firefly was on January 13th, 2018 in a Vietnamese Music room at Paltalk. I was looking for an early morning place to sing on a regular basis, and once again I turned to Vietnam. I had already found a lovely Vietnamese room for my afternoons which had been one of my few joys the previous year. 2017 had been a very sad year for me at Paltalk, both in Talking rooms and in Singing rooms as well as in one to one friendships. For whatever reasons, I had completely lost my way in an organization whose members topped 160,000 people from all over the world. Maybe I hadn't got over the death of a close friend at Paltalk who had made my life so happy in 2016. Who knows. So I entered Karaoke CANH CO QUE HUONG Karaoke.
2. There
were about 5 or 6 people there. A lady was singing on mic, and there were
two hands up waiting to sing. I typed " mc all " which is short for
"men chao" ( hello ) My id was 'Chiron' – one of several I used at
Paltalk. In a room of 6 people, there might be only 3 actually at their keyboard.
I recall being greeted nicely, and began to feel good about the room. In
Vietnamese Music Rooms, the screens are full of stickers and flowers.
In no other country at Paltalk, will you find this kind of celebration as
people sing. I myself love to support singers with flowers and emojis, so Vietnam is made for me. I eventually sang my song – Rhythm of the Falling
Rain – which seemed to be enjoyed, and I received 2 private message requests which I accepted.
3. 2 message boxes then opened up on my screen. Sound is
possible, even webcam is possible – but usually it is type-talk plus nice emojies such as smiles, flowers etc. They can be very
effective if the 2 people do not speak each other's language. The 2 ladies who pm'd
me were called hoa_trang_ngoc and hoa tim luc binh. The first name was Firefly's main id which she had used since
joining Paltalk in August 2015. Hoa tim was always called Hoa tim.
Both ladies began our communications with a yellow smile emoji. I
typed "hello hoa" and added my own smile, then 'thank you', and
another smile. Hoa trang ngoc's first words to me were "VUI QUA CHIRON" which
means Happy Chiron. I certainly was - to have found this room. I replied
"cam on" ( thank you ) the first Vietnamese words I had learned back
in 2014.
4. Hoa tim wrote her mobile number but I lost it. Our main communication was via emojies rather than words. Hoa Tim was then busy somewhere. Hoa Trang and I sang about ten songs each because few others had their hands up. I stayed about 2 hours. It was so sweet when Hoa typed "YOU THANK" as I was leaving, and I responded with "thank you". Hoa then typed THANK YOU and BYE YOU. I had hoped that in due course, I might help Hoa with some basic English if she so wished. Teaching has been my life, and often at Paltalk, I have helped those in the main Education section with their English Communication skills. I returned to the room 2 days later where Hoa had magically changed into Firefly - White Jade Flower had become đom đóm! Another 2 hour exchange of songs, and another sweet and polite private pm. 2018 was looking nice.
Oh my dear firefly, my pearl white flower
Thank you so much for January
Oh my dear đom đóm, my hoa trắng ngọc
Thank
you for galvanising me
Here in your lovely musical room
So many voices in such bloom
Wonderful tunes filling the air
Enjoying our time with never a care
Little did I know what would happen to you
If only you'd told me maybe i could have helped
And
made it clear to you how much i felt
Your first words to me, in that sweet pm
Was just a lovely yellow smile
Then vui quá Chiron, yes I was happy
It was a very special time
The two hours sped by, so many songs
I wished I'd stayed a few hours more
But two days later, I came back to you
And it was just, as it was before
Here in your lovely musical room
so many voices in such bloom
Wonderful tunes filling the air
Enjoying our time with never a care
Little did I know what pain you went through
Little did I know what would happen to you
If only you'd told me maybe i could have helped
And made it clear to you how much i felt
Oh my dear firefly, my pearl white flower
Now all we have are memories
You've gone to Heaven, to join the angels
To sing with them and rest in peace
Below is a bittersweet love song, sung by Kong Ling and written by Vic Cristobal. I find both the lyrics and rendition so haunting.
You came like the wind,
And settled like a leaf,
And my life became complete,
You were so supreme,
For making me think you could care,
Stars above that shine,
Were whispering tonight,
And the moon looked so divine,
Why was I so blind,
In thinking you really could care,
When you told me that you loved me,
I started to believe that you cared,
You took my heart and tore it apart,
Now you're gone and left me in tears,
And so every night I pray,
That dreams that fade away,
Will come back to me some day,
I can't let you go until the day goes into night,
I think Firefly loved her grey hat.
The angels looked down from heaven,
They searched for miles afar,
And deep within the distance,
They could see a shining star.
They knew that very instant,
That the star was theirs to gain,
So they took you up to heaven,
Forever to remain.
Look down on us from heaven,
Keep us free from hurt and pain,
You'll always be within my heart,
Until we meet again.
Họ đã tìm kiếm hàng dặm xa,
Và sâu bên trong khoảng cách
Họ có thể thấy một ngôi sao sáng.
Họ biết ngay lập tức
Ngôi sao đó là của họ để đạt được,
Cho nên họ đưa bạn lên thiên đàng
Mãi mãi để ở lại.
Nhìn xuống chúng tôi từ thiên đàng
Giữ cho chúng ta khỏi bị tổn thương và đau đớn,
Bạn sẽ luôn ở trong trái tim tôi
Chúc mừng năm mới !!
New year wishes
everyone a sky of health, a sea of love, a love ocean, a love chorus, a
loyal love, an immense friendship, a prosperous family.
Happy New Year!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNKtRgqCq34 Ngày Về Có Tin Xuân Thanh Thúy 3m 32
Hàn Mặc Tử - Ripe Spring,
In pure sunlight: dreams dissolve,
A pair of thatched roofs speckled gold.
The teasing wind rustles emerald clothes,
On fragrant arbor. See spring unfold.
Verdant grass waves ripple to the sky.
Around the village, girls singing on high.
– Perhaps tomorrow from that youthful throng,
One will follow a husband, bid her game goodbye…
Sound of singing on the mountain,
Soft as words of water and clouds…
Murmuring with those sitting under bamboo,
Such delicate and innocent sounds…
Guests from afar meet at ripe spring,
Hearts and minds suddenly long for home:
– This year, does she still carry rice,
Along the riverbank under the bright blazing sun?
Hàn Mặc Tử - Mùa xuân chín
Trong làn nắng ửng: khói mơ tan,
Đôi mái nhà tranh lấm tấm vàng.
Sột soạt gió trêu tà áo biếc,
Trên giàn thiên lí. Bóng xuân sang.
Sóng cỏ xanh tươi gợn tới trời.
Bao cô thôn nữ hát trên đồi.
– Ngày mai trong đám xuân xanh ấy,
Có kẻ theo chồng, bỏ cuộc chơi…
Tiếng ca vắt vẻo lưng chừng núi,
Hổn hển như lời của nước mây…
Thầm thĩ với ai ngồi dưới trúc,
Nghe ra ý vị và thơ ngây…
Khách xa gặp lúc mùa xuân chín,
Lòng trí bâng khuâng sực nhớ làng:
– Chị ấy, năm nay còn gánh thóc,
Dọc bờ sông trắng nắng chang chang?
In Memory of The 39 - Bless You
The names of the 39 Vietnamese people who came to England hoping to improve their lives and those of their friends and families back home. Where I was able to find them, I have included their photographs. They died in the back of a lorry in transit.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw-8IWG9vxM = Tình Hoài Hương PBN 19 1993 4m 33
Kong Ling –This World We Love In Erik Satie - Gnossienne No.1
Hoa
tím lục bình's section started on September 27 - the day after hoa arrived
Lục bình ai thả trên sông
Trôi theo con nước lưu dòng
Chiều nào ra đứng bờ sông
Nhìn sang bên ấy nghe lòng nhớ mong
Anh đi cách bên ngăn sông
để em nhớ mãi tím bông lục bình.
Còn đâu như bóng mới hình
Còn đâu hai đứa chúng mình bên nhau
Đâu rồi ngày ấy qua mau
Anh quên lời hứa hôm nào đã trao
Giờ anh cưới vợ sang giàu
Còn đâu thương nhớ...
Tím màu hoa xưa .
Dương Hồng Loan singing Hoa Tím Lục Bình
Hyacinth who drops on the river
Follow the water flow
Come out to the river in the afternoon
Looking to that side, I could remember
He walked away from the river
Let me remember purple hyacinth flowers forever.
Where is it like a new shadow?
Where are the two of us?
Where is that day?
He forgot the promise he gave
Now he's got married to a rich one
What else do you miss ...
Purple purple flowers.
You came to Paltalk - in the Spring of the year
Your heart it was dancing - so pleased to be here
With a number of songs that you wanted to share
For singing was something – you'd always had there
So many places - for you to explore
At last you found one - that answered your call
And you sang in that room nearly every day
Your Paltalk experience was now underway
Hoa tim luc binh - You wanted to sing
Hoa tim luc binh - It meant everything
Hoa tim luc binh - Gossamer Wings
Hoa tim luc binh - See what life brings
But suddenly one of your friends could not come
Her health it had worsened – her singing was done
But you tried oh so hard to keep the room going
Whenever you could – the music still flowing
Bài hát cho Hoa tím lục bình 2018
(Song for Hoa tím lục bình)
Hoa tim luc binh - You wanted to sing
Hoa tim luc binh - It meant everything
Hoa tim luc binh - Gossamer Wings
Hoa tim luc binh - See what life brings
Then suddenly I heard the terrible news
Another dear friend – oh you had gone too
Your time here on Earth it had come to a close
For Heaven had called you to be its new rose
Hoa tim luc binh - You wanted to sing
Hoa tim luc binh - It meant everything
Hoa tim luc binh - Sweet Purple Flower
Hoa tim luc binh - Shine by the hour
Hoa tim luc binh - Miss you so much
Pham Quynh Anh - Hello Vietnam Pham Quynh Anh - Bonjour Vietnam HELLO VIETNAM - KYO YORK (LIVE) Francoise Hardy - The Rose
Chiron
Hoa Tim
Here is our dear friend Arlene
Duyên tình 4m 56
Jannine Weigel - Bèo dạt mây trôi
The Boat People of Vietnam
The number of boat people leaving Vietnam and arriving safely in another country totalled almost 800,000 between 1975 and 1995. Many of the refugees failed to survive the passage, facing danger from pirates, over-crowded boats, and storms. The boat people's first destinations were the Southeast Asian countries of British Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The combination of economic sanctions, the legacy of destruction left by the Vietnam War, Vietnamese government policies, and further conflicts with neighboring countries caused an international humanitarian crisis, with the Southeast Asian countries increasingly unwilling to accept more boat people on their shores.
After negotiations and an international conference in 1979, Vietnam agreed to limit the flow of people leaving the country. The Southeast Asian countries agreed to admit the boat people temporarily, and the rest of the world, especially the developed countries, agreed to assume most of the costs of caring for the boat people and to resettle them in their countries.From refugee camps in Southeast Asia, the great majority of boat people were resettled in developed countries, some in the United States and most of the remainder in Canada, Australia, France, West Germany, and the United Kingdom. Several tens of thousands were repatriated to Vietnam, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
During this period, hundreds
of thousands of people left Vietnam in overloaded, ill-equipped boats. Over
6000 died at sea, while others were rescued, and eventually were resettled in countries
around the world. The Vietnamese Boat People Monument in California's Westminster
Memorial Park’s Asian Garden of Peaceful Eternity is one of several around the
world. This one shows four statues on a slab (raft) within a pool. A man, an
older woman, and a woman holding a child. Surrounding the memorial are 54
blocks of stone, on which are engraved the names of deceased boat people.
Lê Dung – Hướng Về Hà Nội
Hoang Oanh - Uu tu lan dau
.
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY Thái Thanh
Thái Thanh (Pham Thi Bang Thanh) was born in 1934 in Bach Mai, Hanoi. She learned how to sing from Northern Vietnamese folk music, and later from French music books, giving her a unique vocal style. She was in a family band called Thang Long in 1949, which included her sister, Thai Hang, and her brothers. They performed at Viet Minh bases with songs mostly written by Thanh’s brother, Hoai Bac, and Pham Duy, Thai Hang’s husband. In 1951, the family moved to Saigon. She married Le Quynh in 1956 and gave birth to five children, 3 girls and 2 boys. She appeared on many radio and television music programs. In the early 1970s, she and Thang Long choir performed at the discotheque Pink Night. From 1975 until 1985, she wasn't allowed to sing in public. She made up for it in Orange County, California following her emigration. The "Voice which echoes Thru Time". She passed away on March 17, 2020.
The 10 brave girls of Đồng Lộc junction
La Thi Tam, a young volunteer, bravely helped vehicles passing through Đồng Lộc T-junction, Hà Tĩnh Province in North Central Vietnam. It was a major target for US bombers, resulting in the death of thousands of soldiers, volunteers, drivers and innocent civilians. La Thi Tam, along with other girls, risked her life every day to help keep the junction open to traffic heading for the southern battlefields along the Ho Chi Minh trail.
There is a temple at Dong Loc T-junction – built to honour ten girls who, in 1968, while levelling a bomb crater, were buried alive by bombs dropped by US forces. Their sacrifice became a symbol of Vietnamese heroism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDbcNXkLaiM ; Nguoi con gai song Lac - NSND Le Dung ( Daughter of the La River )
