Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Itsumo Nando Demo (Always With Me)

My sister is a huge Hayao Miyazaki fan. (Well, perhaps I should give Joe Hisaishi a big shoutout here too as he is the composer who has written many of the scores for Miyazaki's films, including the one I mention below.) She would often have his playlists playing in the background while studying or doing homework.

This particular song is from the film Spirited Away. While going through some of Liliane's things, I found that she had copies of the piano sheet music for this piece printed out and stashed in her "special collection", with fingerings and everything.

Below I have the lyrics to the song in both its original Japanese as well as the English translation. Hope you can enjoy this beautiful piece...


Itsumo Nando Demo

Yondeiru Mune no Dokoka Okude
Itsumo Kokoro Odoru Yume wo Mitai
Kanashimi wa Kazoekirenai kedo
Sono Mukou de Kitto Anata ni Aeru
Kurikaesu Ayamachi no Sonotabi Hito wa
Tada Aoi Sora no Aosa wo Shiru
Hateshinaku Michi wa Tsuzuite Mieru keredo
Kono Ryoute wa Hikari wo Dakeru
Sayonara no Toki no Shizukana Mune
Zero ni Naru Karada ga Mimi wo Sumaseru
Ikiteiru Fushigi Sinde Iku Fusigi
Hana mo Kaze mo Machi mo Minna Onaji
Yondeiru Mune no Dokoka Oku de
Itsumo Nando demo Yume wo Egakou
Kanashimi no Kazu wo Iitsukusu yori
Onaji Kuchibiru de Sotto Utaou
Tojiteiku Omoide no Sono Naka ni Itsumo
Wasure takunai Sasayaki wo Kiku
Konagona ni Kudakareta Kagami no Ue nimo
Atarashii Keshiki ga Utsusareru
Hajimari no Asa Shizuka na Mado
Zero ni Naru Karada Mitasarete Yuke
Umi no Kanata niwa Mou Sagasanai
Kagayaku Mono wa Itsumo Koko ni
Watashi no Naka ni Mitsukerareta Kara



Always With Me

Somewhere, a voice calls, in the depths of my heart,
May I always be dreaming, the dreams that move my heart.
So many tears of sadness, uncountable through and through
I know on the other side of them I’ll find you.
Every time we fall down to the ground we look up to the blue sky above,
We wake to its blueness, as for the first time.
Though the road is long and lonely and the end far away,
Out of sight I can with these two arms embrace the light.
As I bid farewell my heart stops, in tenderness I feel
My silent empty body begins to listen to what is real.
The wonder of living, the wonder of dying,
The wind, town, and flowers, we all dance one unity.
Somewhere a voice calls in the depths of my heart,
Keep dreaming your dreams, don’t ever let them part.
Why speak of all your sadness or of life’s painful woes
Instead let the same lips sing a gentle song for you.
The whispering voice, we never want to forget,
In each passing memory always there to guide you.
When a mirror has been broken, shattered pieces scattered on the ground
Glimpses of new life, reflected all around.
Window of beginning, stillness, new light of the dawn
Let my silent, empty body be filled and reborn.
No need to search outside, nor sail across the sea
‘Cause here shining inside me, it’s right here inside me.

I’ve found a brightness, it’s always with me.


(My sister always wanted to learn Japanese)

いつも何度でも
作詞/覚和歌子 
作曲・歌/木村 弓

呼んでいる 胸のどこか奥で
いつも心踊る 夢を見たい

悲しみは 数えきれないけれど
その向こうできっと あなたに会える

繰り返すあやまちの そのたびひとは
ただ青い空の 青さを知る
果てしなく 道は続いて見えるけれど
この両手は 光を抱ける

さよならのときの 静かな胸
ゼロになるからだが 耳をすませる

生きている不思議 死んでいく不思議
花も風も街も みんなおなじ

ラララララララララ・・・・・・・・・
ホホホホルルルル・・・・・・・・

呼んでいる 胸のどこか奥で
いつも何度でも 夢を描こう

悲しみの数を 言い尽くすより
同じくちびるで そっとうたおう

閉じていく思い出の そのなかにいつも
忘れたくない ささやきを聞く
こなごなに砕かれた 鏡の上にも
新しい景色が 映される

はじまりの朝の 静かな窓
ゼロになるからだ 充たされてゆけ

海の彼方には もう探さない
輝くものは いつもここに
わたしのなかに 見つけられたから 


Memorial for Lili

Here is the incredibly sweet speech Liliane's coworker wrote for me to read at Liliane's memorial service, which of course I forgot to do... Thank you, Fadwa, for your beautifully touching tribute.



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

          Before saying anything I want to emphasize that being here today despite this great loss we are all lucky to have had Lili in our lives even if it was only for a little while. She will be greatly missed but the love and kindness that she has shown through her life greatly triumphs over the pain of losing her.           
          I trained Lili when she first started to work in the office and she instantly excelled and surpass me in her abilities. Also, she was always very considerate of my school load and if she knew that I had an exam or project coming up she made sure to finish as much work as possible so that I can study. She was also a very smart, dedicated, humble student herself. It always amazed me how she was able to keep up her high grades, work, volunteer, and do research while also making time to spend with the people she cared about.          
         When I go into work I would always focus on finishing what I had to do and leaving as fast as I could. However, Lili was not like that. Yes she was busy but she was calm. There were many times she would come in on her day off to talk or study in the office so that I had company while I was working. Going to work now and seeing all of the forms that she signed off  on it saddens me to think that it will come to a point that I will stop seeing her handwriting on the forms that she has signed off on. Talking to Elaine, Lili’ s sister, makes me feel that Lili is still her in this world. She may be gone physically but being surrounded by all the lives that she has influenced and was influenced by makes me feel that she is here with us and will never be forgotten. Lili and I had always planned to one day have lunch with her sister so that we can all be friends.     
            Although she will not be there when we do finally meet  she will be happy to see that we are finishing something that she always planned but did not have time to do. Looking down on us I know that she will be happy that friendships are forming and lessons are being learned from her even after her time has passed and I hope that everyone here keeps this in mind.       
         The last thing that she would want is to see the people she cared about being sad.  I am confident that she would want all of us to see the best in the worst situations such as this. Although it is unfortunate to say, with an incident such as this people are awakened and reminded to feel through their hearts and love with from their soul. We will start feeling the need to care and love the people that are still here with us more passionately. We will stop trying to rush through life and enjoy the moments that we have now. While I had lacked this mentality in the past, Lili always seemed to have mastered  it. Her feelings were true, her attentiveness and care was genuine, and her heart was pure.         
           In the fast-paced and chaotic world we live in it becomes rare to find something simple to hold on to and stop the world from moving so fast. Lili’s capability, ambition, and personality were far from simple. However, her kind, humble, innocent nature was what is simple and because of this she will never be forgotten and will always be loved.

                
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Please also allow me to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to come to my sister's memorial service and/or write something in honor of Liliane. Your kind gestures have meant so much to my family and I hope you all know that if there's ever anything I might be able to assist with, you need only ask and I will always try to do my best to help.

One more time, thank you and wishing everyone a very Happy New Year.



Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Our earliest (recorded) Gchat...

In 2011, I would have been a senior in college and Liliane would have been a junior in high school.

Chat script left unedited - (yes it makes me look like a jerk...)

10:41 PM Liliane: wait, you don't have class tomorrow?
  are you calling?
  hallohallohallo????
  :-o
  :-/
  :(
10:42 PM x-(
 me: hi
  how was ur lesson?
  should i call?
 Liliane: it was fine
  you call if you want
10:43 PM me: mmm ... can i call in like 20 minutes?
  or is that too late?
 Liliane: i'll probably still be up...
  :P
10:44 PM how can you not have classes?
10:45 PM me: because i don't
  :D
  but i have my internship on those days
 Liliane: you!!!
10:46 PM lucky!!!
  >.<
10:47 PM me: :P
  well i deserve one semester like this at least
10:48 PM Liliane: ...
  deserve?
 me: ppl in business almost never have classes on friday
  aaand - u should be happy b/c this increases the chances of me being able 2 go home 4 3 days instead of just 2
 Liliane: yayayayayaAAAa!
 me: there r some other majors that don't schedule classes on friday and such
  yeah - see?
10:49 PM Liliane: :* :* :* :*
  mwah mwah mwah mwah
  <3<3<3<3
 me: but like i said
  i still have my internship 2 go 2 on friday
 Liliane: oh
10:50 PM me: so it just depends on if the school's having a holiday or not
 Liliane: okok
  come home friday!
10:51 PM yayayaya!
10:52 PM me: not this friday
 Liliane: :(
10:53 PM nononono
  how did bulls do?
 me: they won
  :)
 Liliane: yayyy
  good
10:54 PM is boozer back?
 me: no not yet
 Liliane: even better
  then
10:55 PM me: yep
10:56 PM and dallas had dirk novitzski back too
  he'd been out the past couple weeks or so w/ an injury
  yep
 Liliane: ooooo
  :D
10:57 PM me: do u really find this interesting?
 Liliane: yup
  better than physic
  s
  actually, i do like physics when i can figure it out
10:58 PM but i dislike it when it's too confusing
 me: of course
  well if all i'm doing is distracting u from ur hw then i'm leaving
10:59 PM Liliane: nooooo
  :'(
  mwah mwah?
  :*:*
  :*
  :*
 me: whoa - what's that from?
 Liliane: :*
11:00 PM me: :*
 Liliane: they have different kinds of smileys you can set
 me: what?
  o - it's a different kind?
 Liliane: see the smiley icon on the bottom right?
  yeah
 me: yeah - i kno
 Liliane: :*:*:*:*
  it red!
 me: u dork
  do ur hw!
  x-( '
 Liliane: i not a dork!
11:01 PM x-(
  x-(
 me: well if u want me 2 call do ur work for a good 15 minutes or so
  o, that's kind of cute when it blinks
  :P
 Liliane: yes
  i know i cute
  :)
11:02 PM me: uh huh ... :-|
 Liliane: hmph!
11:03 PM x-(
 me: work!

19 minutes
11:22 PM Liliane: past 15 min.!
  hehehehe
  :D
 me: o yeah
11:23 PM were u working?
  is mommy still up?
 Liliane: i tink?
  ummm....
  O:)
  i tried very hard to do the physics problem
 me: well i don't want 2 wake her up if she isn't
  and?
 Liliane: tried difficultly?
 me: what're u guys working on now?
 Liliane: momentum
 me: that sounds weird
  ah
 Liliane: the problem is enrichment
11:24 PM me: was that p*v?
 Liliane: yes!
  wait, no
 me: er .... what was p again?
 Liliane: p=mv
  p is momentum
 me: o right
  p is momentum
  yeah - i remember now
 Liliane: you're thinking pv=nrt
  PV=nRT
 me: no, i kno that's something completely different
  gasses and such
  *gases
 Liliane: ideal gases
11:25 PM me: everything in physics is "ideal"
  well, the type of physics we do
 Liliane: yup
  all the variables are getting confusing
 me: well can u find out if mommy's awake or not?
  if she is then i'll call
 Liliane: we were learning about pq in micro
  hold on
 me: o - what's that?
 Liliane: umm...
  hold on...
11:26 PM it is...
  let me think...
11:27 PM pq stands for price x quantity
  ah no, i'm blanking out!
11:28 PM me: o - okay
 Liliane: we just learned it though...
  :(
 me: why do u need a special "formula" 4 that thoug?
  *though
 Liliane: micro has lots of math involved?
11:29 PM me: hm - okay
11:30 PM Liliane: oh, total revenue = pq
 me: o - okay
  so is mommy up?
 Liliane: yup!
  i was just about to tell you
  :)
11:32 PM me: okay then
  i'll call
 Liliane: ok!

21 minutes
11:53 PM Liliane: jiejie?
11:54 PM me: yeah?
 Liliane: i tink i go now
  i cold
 me: okay
11:55 PM u done w/ ur hw?
 Liliane: well, i'm studying for a chem quiz
 me: what's it about?
11:56 PM Liliane: thermochemistry
 me: ew, not my fav
  >.<
  well gluck!
  :)
 Liliane: gluck?
 me: good luck
 Liliane: i know
  but gluck sounds funny
  in a good way
  :D
 me: u a gluck
  :P
  go 2 bed
  get warm
11:57 PM Liliane: thankies
  wub u
  :*:*:*:*
  hehehehe
  i wish i could cuddle with you
  :(
 me: bye liliane
11:58 PM Liliane: bai bai
 me: mmm - listening 2 clair de lune
  :)
  good night
 Liliane: i was listening to symphonie fantastique
 me: o that's a good one
  okay stop talking!
 Liliane: :'(
  fine
 me: :*
 Liliane: goodie night
  yayyyy
  :):):)
 me: that still looks weird
11:59 PM Liliane: it looks like meeeee
 me: heehee - that's just what i was thinking
  :P \
  okay - i'm not gonna respond 2 u anymore
  luv u
  be good
  ttyl
12:00 AM Liliane: ewww, i don't like when people use ttyl
  ok, bye bye!
  :*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Love you Moo. I miss our chats. Hope you don't mind too much that I put this one out there...

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Cute Poop

I'm not sure how open my sister was about her fondness for poop, but as her Jiejie (older sister), I feel it is my responsibility to embarrass her by publicly announcing her deep, abiding affection for poo and other bathroom-related humor. There were countless number of times we shared intense belly-aching laugh sessions because of some sort of bodily function-related incident. The last such instance I can remember is when I told my sister about how the little 5-year-old Brazilian piano student I have likes to fart while sitting on my lap during our lessons. She cracked up for so long when she first heard this story, then promptly proceeded to tease me mercilessly about it - (not that Liliane was ever actually "merciless.") And when she tried to retell this mini vignette to my parents, she couldn't even get the words out because she started laughing uncontrollably.




This probably would have been my sister's life motto is she knew about it... (Kawaii = Cute)


We definitely have these stickers... ^

Literal Translation = Golden Luck





Again, my sister would probably be absolutely mortified that I'm posting this post - (and I'm having a hard time justifying why I've chosen to make this my first post on this blog... just like I'm not entirely sure why I thought it would be a good idea to open up my memorial speech to my sister with the phrase "fart jokes.") But I guess that's just the kind of older sister Liliane had to put up with.
Wherever you are, Moo, I can see you doing your embarrassed laugh and "mrah-ing" me. You're welcome.