The Lion and the Hawk

Where we come from, where we go. It is a feeling that always brushes my mind when I think of you. A realization that our past shapes our future but does not dictate it. A reminder that the heart can be repaired by molding a new one.

We are from different worlds you and me. We don’t have similar interests, attitudes, or desires. Our perception of humanity and the world at large greatly differs. But the one thing we share is heart, because you gave it to me.

With all the grief, struggle and hard times I give, just know that I admire you. I admire your character. I admire your beauty. I admire your strength. I admire your endurance. And I admire your story.

You were born in Romania just after the second world war. Your parents were Jewish survivors of the holocaust. And you and your sister had to deal with constantly moving to new towns and countries. And if that wasn’t enough adversity for a little girl to deal with, you were faced with the oppression of the communist regime.

Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that you were exposed to the terrible memories your parents wore on their sleeves. They both loved you more than life itself, but they couldn’t save you from their own demons.

I can only imagine growing up with all the yelling, the fights, the spewing hatred, and the beatings.

But your parents wanted a better life for you. So, they finally escaped and brought you to the new promised land, Israel. A place where you learned what it felt like to be accepted. A place where you felt safe. A place where you felt free.

I still love it when your face glows when recalling your memories of the beautiful weather, the people, and the land.

Your mother however saw the potential dangers in a region that was becoming more and more volatile. And by some miracle that would make anyone breakdown at just the thought, your mother discovered that her sister survived the holocaust and was living happily with her husband in a democracy that was still unknown to you. Canada.

Now surrounded by a loving family and the big bright lights of Toronto, you started to plant your feet and seeds for a different life. A different tomorrow.

I still can’t believe that you arrived in Canada at the age of 10 and already knew 4 languages. Do you still remember any of them well? Because one of the things that has astounded me my whole life is that English was your fifth language and yet you’ve never had an accent as long as I can remember. I guess you arrived at just the right age. Although the strange hodgepodge has somehow given you a slight New York accent. It’s really weird. No?

But language was from far from the only hurdle of your youth.

When at last you blossomed into a stunning young woman, you realized that your ethnicity was stamped on your head like the yellow star your parents had to bear all those miles ago.

You were nowhere near in a state of oppression that your parents came from, but there was a hatred stirring in the city shadows. It came in the form of jokes, insults, and rejection. Whether it be from friends, co-workers, or potential employers.

But despite all this ignorance, you always held your head high, and a lightness to your step. You were proud of your heritage and tried to sway the opinions of those around you with your actions.

Those actions would mostly come in the form of your larger-than-life character and energy. Whether people loved you or found you too abrasive, one thing is for sure, everyone noticed when you entered a room. You had a feisty persistence about you. If you wanted something, no matter how ambitious, you pushed as hard as you could until you broke through. And although it often got you in trouble, you were never afraid to speak your mind.

So obviously you wouldn’t choose an easy life, right? Of course not.

After meeting and falling in love with the most handsome man in the world on your university campus, you decided to break tradition. You chose to marry a man from outside of the faith. A man who also came from a deeply religious family. A Roman Catholic family.

Your family was very conflicted and had an extremely hard time accepting Gerard into their lives. But he proved his love and devotion to you by agreeing to convert to Judaism to please your family. Anything to make you happy. I think you chose a keeper, huh?

But why stop breaking with tradition? Instead of a simple sensible honeymoon, the two of you went off on a year long adventure around the world. Going from South America to Africa to Asia, all on a shoestring budget. Traveling by any means necessary. Cargo ships, off road buses or hitching a ride. You tried it all. And you weren’t afraid to go into the “forbidden” areas where tourists weren’t supposed to venture, often meeting far-out characters and finding yourself in potential dangerous and confrontational situations. But through it all your good-hearted nature and zest for life prevailed and showed you the path forward and eventually home.

Did you need a bigger challenge? Apparently.

You chose one of the most difficult and male dominated industries there was. The film industry. A cutthroat environment where your next job is always in question. A place that requires long hours and for you to be away from your family for weeks at a time, sometimes months. But regardless of all the obstacles, you stuck to your lofty goals and you ended up becoming the first ever female Assistant Director in the country. Now that’s what I call trailblazing.

But why stop there?

You even had the gall to open a way-ahead-of-its-time gourmet store. A store that was destined to fail, but you still did it. You made it happen. And it was stunning. Nobody can take that away from you.

And all the while you’re juggling your two careers, you produced (what I’m sure you would call) your greatest achievements - your daughter and your son. And most would assume that your careers would take you away from quality time with your kids, but it was quite the opposite. You always managed to find time to play with your children, go adventuring with your children, and be affectionate with your children.

My mind is blown to think that to this point you were still only in your early 30s. That’s an eternity of memories that shall never lay dormant. For you are in my story.

Shall we up the ante? What the hell!

After you became fed up with the politics of the film industry, you decided to become a visionary and produce your own content. You made a slew of award-winning documentary specials featuring interviews with the likes of the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Stephen Covey, Deepak Chopra, Jane Goodall, Gloria Steinem, and Richard Branson. I remember what grueling work it was and the self-doubt in your mind of whether you had made the right decision to take destiny into your own hands. But you were notorious for not letting your foot off the pedal once you had got going.

You were addicted to danger.

Perhaps nothing was more audacious than your latest foray into reaching the highest peak. A live global multi-platform virtual benefit concert to help feed hungry women and children and their families on Mother’s Day. Wow! Just wow! That is what I call dreaming big.

And even though you have been working a long time to make this dream happen and its existence still doesn’t look likely, I want you to keep moving. Keep hoping. Because you aren’t yourself if you aren’t dreaming. Your luster is gone if you settle for anything less than what we all love about you. Your tenacity.

So, in these darker and more uncertain times, I want you to remember who you are. I want you to remember all that you have been through. All that you have seen. Remember all the people you have touched and those that have touched you. And remember to reach down to access the power of your own story.

You ARE Lili Fournier. And nobody can take that away from you.

Thank you for all that you have taught me. From how to face adversity, to how to keep an open heart, to how to treat women, to how to keep your dreams alive.

Thank you, Mom.

Love,

David

P.S. I will leave you with this poem I wrote for you.

Where we came from, where we go. The almighty sent an angelic gift to a family picking up the pieces of pain. A reminder that the heart can be repaired by molding a new one. A chaotic land was your residence but place to place there was no home. At last, the bells from above were heard and you answered the call to your true homeland. A brand-new country emerging from infancy just as you were. It brought you beauty faith and pride. But this holy land was only a necessary chapter in the shaping of your spirit. Your destiny was in the chance of true freedom. A place where anything is possible and stay true to that creed. For you were equally destined to fight for the right to indulge in possibilities.

Coming of age in the fresh air of vastness. Finding a family once thought perished. An aunt, an uncle, a dog, a garden of peace. The challenge of fitting in at an age when all feel ostracized. But you are no stranger to adversity. The barriers of language race and gender only emboldened your resolve. Cursed with a beauty only few women have known, your shine was felt by all. An insatiable thirst for great sensations and the adventures of the world, you made flying seem easy. Your biggest wish came true at an early stage. It was more than love at first sight. And now you knew everything was going to be okay. A new family of acceptance was a new experience. A joining of two worlds of love is all you need. Jet setters around the world in 80 ways. The fruit of culture and knowledge will always remain ripe. Two artists that refused to be ordinary, for you realized ordinary is just not good enough today.

But for all your strength and moxie, all you ever wanted was a family of your own making. A mother who did things your way and relished every moment with your babies. A burden they were not. Furthest from it. You wanted to do everything with them. The miracle of a breathtaking charming and courageous little girl. The blessing of an adorable sensitive and sweet little boy. You watered them well and they grew way too fast. But it is that time when we feel we were meant for something greater than ourselves. Time to change course.

Time starts to become invisible as it hits record speeds. Now your family has a family and more hearts to mold. Little beauties that remind you of your lost innocence and dreams. Life is an incredible power, and what are you prepared to do!?! When there is a mountain in front of you, you are looking up.