Capturing one’s soundtrack at a milestone in life is no easy feat. Plenty of one hit wonders paraded me through nearly 60 years of life and 30 years of partnership with Greg to the day. The stand out songs that escort my story, feelings, and emotions however, all came from two world class acts – A Swedish quartet you all know by the acronym ABBA and an epic French-Canadian singer with an unrivaled voice.
There was no doubt in my mind that a tribute journey to the most beautiful city in the world to experience the most beautiful French female voice would be the fitting anniversary present. Sure, we have seen and heard Celine in Las Vegas in the past, but her journey back to the stage was filled with trials, tribulations, and hardship of a debilitating illness as much as our paths dealt with our own struggles throughout these past 3 decades.
Few know that Paris was Greg’s first international trip back in 97, when I introduced him to my friends Thierry & Jerome and my vibrant mom for first time. Returning to the French Capital this time therefore is also a reunion with the two of them and an obligatory bottle of bubbly popped on Pont Alexandre III in honor of my mom’s memory is par for the course.
The concert took place at the Plenitude Arena just a few steps behind the Arc de la Defense in a venue with outstanding sound quality. 35,000 eager fans awaited her epic 2.5 hr tour de force of a show. The ambiance was one of love and respect in both directions. What made Celine even more endearing was her warmth, genuine emotion and occasional missed notes that let us all see how much of a human effort on her part it took to get these 10 shows on stage. As ours was the finale for this fall, it was palpable in her ever more relaxed and powerful voice, that she gave it her all with inner joy and happiness. Truly a concert for the ages that left no eye dry!
Boy, how far have we all come in those 30 years of friendship and partnership. No more 1* Hotel Picard on a budget, this time we all stay at a luxurious boutique property in the Marrais befitting the occasion. The then colorful and whimsical Renault Twingo’s everywhere on the streets of Paris have returned as have we, except this time they are all electric and we sport wrinkles and hair color changed to gray.
