“Since I left you, I have been constantly depressed. My happiness is to be near you. Incessantly I live over in my memory your caresses, your tears, your affectionate solicitude. The charms of the incomparable Josephine kindle continually a burning and a glowing flame in my heart. When, free from all solicitude, all harassing care, shall I be able to pass all my time with you, having only to love you, and to think only of the happiness of so saying, and of proving it to you?”
Napoléon Bonaparte
Today, in 1763, Joséphine de Beauharnais was born in Les Trois-Îlets, Martinique, far away from the charismatic man who would make her an Empress. Napoléon Bonaparte’s love for his Joséphine has been immortalized in his writings and in the numerous biographies written over the centuries. Love is never simple; but with Napoléon and Joséphine it reached a pinnacle of complexity that astonished the people of France and kept neighbouring nations engaged in political speculation. Even now, we are fascinated by one of the greatest love stories every told.
“As for me, to love you alone, to make you happy, to do nothing which would contradict your wishes, this is my destiny and the meaning of my life.”
Napoléon Bonaparte’s
Lady Budd 
Oh, it’s so important: “My happiness is to be near you” !!!
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Napoleon was an extraordinary writer. He seemed to know exactly how to express his emotions. Thank you so much for stopping by!!! 🙂
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And I know only the merest amount about it. Time for more research.
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You and me both. It was a stormy relationship from what little I know. I have a huge book on Napoleon on my list – hope I can get to it this year. So much to read, so little time…. 🙂
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Wow, what so wonderful story and great quote. Thank you for sharing with us. You always make my day with excitement.
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And you always give me a lift and smile for my day! Happy Monday – we are in a brand new week that promises many adventures!!
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Yes, and hope this week will be another challenging journey. Have a great day !
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Thank you! There is always a journey – glad that we are sharing it together.
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As you can see I like what you do, and I’m thankful to my good friend Paulette Mahurin of The Prosecution of Mildred Dunlap for having introduced me to your seemingly intriguing work on this attractive post.
Beneath Bonaparte’s letter and the ‘liked’ declarations, you have a fine print insurance contract style avow, I was pleased to discover you’re informing us of “The Gift of Days”.
Should you find it of interest to discover two more poems, one small ” The Gift of A Day ” ~ as in being alive ~, and one medium small ” The Gift ” ~ of you ~, please let me know and I shall be pleased to post them to you. Sorry about the round about suggestion, but I’m not much for imposing on other people territory. Looking forward to reading more of you, having just started to follow being your blog. Great Hat by the way… Chapeau for that too! JJ
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How wonderful for you to stop by for a visit – thank you for your heartwarming comments. I do like hats. And I have a great pair of rubber boots that serve me well when I walk along the Vancouver Sea Wall. I would be delighted if you would be kind enough to share those poems. I have already visited your blog and am looking forward to our ongoing dialogue! We are on opposite of Canada, but I have a feeling we are walking the same pathway! 🙂
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Thank you for your inviting words, and I too get the feeling that we are on the same path in spite of the distance from yours and my sister’s part of this wonderful country. As to my two ” Gift ” poems I will be delighted to share them with you and will accordingly do so before this day is out.
In the interim I should tell you that I too love hats, and find it impossible not to notice or comment, and most especially on ladies who know how to wear them. I now look forward to some day be given the privilege of seeing those great Sea Wall boots.
Have a wonderful day, and À bientôt dear Lady Budd. JJ
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Thank you!!! Have a wonderful week!!!
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And before memory fails, here are the two ” Gift ” poems… offered.
“ The Gift Of A Day ”
~ told of being alive ~
Yesterday
Was part of the ride
Told of being alive…
Today
Fate made to give,
That I derive
The gift of a day,
An extended stay
Held staying alive…
Tomorrow
Of course,
Will only be
If I survive,
So I’ve no mind
And far less time
For such concern,
That mayn’t arrive…
Thus for this day
That I’m alive,
I choose to live
As tho it be a lifetime! © Jean-Jacques Fournier
“ The Gift ”
~ of you ~
I want not to forget
Tho I may well yet,
Of not having tried
Or even to know why
I reasoned to regret,
Rather than affect
Knowing that I could
With not much need to try
As you were easy on the eye…
I wanted to recall
The times you tried
Offering so your all,
Why I couldn’t see
How you needed me,
Nor had I understood
Needing you the more,
I might have realized
The gift of you so given,
I hadn’t known before…
It doesn’t tax ones memory
Recalling there’d been many,
But none as you by plenty,
Yet didn’t know enough
This gift for me to hold,
It’s only now that I can tell
Now that I’m wizened old,
And alas that you’re now gone,
A gift for someone else to hold! © Jean-Jacques Fournier
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Thank you!
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As I said, before this day is out… thus so my humble homage to this and all great love for another… two poems, one for life, and one of love. Both needed. JJ
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How very true! Thank you for adding so much to the dialogue!
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“To love you alone”, what a beautiful phrase. I confess I know little about these two–sad confession. I wonder how they met, since they lived to far apart.
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They had an unusual relationship – the stuff of legend. If they lived today, their lives would be recorded on the magazine covers!
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