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A
love letter from Thérèse Dion to Celine, published in "7
Jours Magazine" on May 15, 1999
Dear
Céline,
How
to write this letter without writing 13 more? Of course, I do understand why I
was asked to publicly write to you, my famous daughter, but nothing could change
my 'sentiments': my (mother's) heart has fourteen compartments! Also, what I am
writing to you, I address it to every one of my children... I remember,
realizing, when you were a small girl, that you loved singing and I admit I felt
a little discouraged about that... ''Not another one!'' I said to myself. I had
13 children before you, 9 of which were caressing an identical dream to yours. 9
who also failed with this dream, 9 that I couldn't have helped, because life had
imposed too many restraints, these, essential to our survival. It became an
habit, if I can say, to silence this dream on all of my children. One day, I
started to question myself... You had this talent, my little bird, we could not
ignore it. But mainly, you were my 'baby', our baby and also my last one... I
wanted to accomplish something with you.
This
is when I started to knock on showbusiness's doors. I was ill equipped to find
myself in these surroundings. I was a mother. You know the story, Céline....
People were saying to me ''You know, Mrs. Dion... '' Yes, I knew... I knew I
loved you and that I would force doors for you...
It
was not an earning job to write songs for a child. I understood that right away.
Also, I wasn't making it for the money, but... for love! Have I told you, Céline
that the flow of songs I had in my head was waking me up during the night? I was
going to work around 5:00, 5:30 in the morning, put on the stoves before the
arrival of the customers, and I was writing songs for you. For your dream, which
became also mine. I even obliged your brother Jacques to put music to my words.
''But I never wrote music, Mom!'' It was better for him to start doing it!
The
rest is history... Now, I am shivering every time I see 45,000 persons
applauding you. Shivers of pride. Shivers of emotions. Mother's shivers. But it
took quite some time for myself to get there. I was afraid of the success I had
so wished for you. At the beginning, I thought your notoriety would take you
away from me. You were surrounded by more and more professionals, who
accomplished duties that I always accomplished by myself, until then. Who was
more well placed than a mother of 14 to know how to take care of a single one? I
felt jealous of all those people surrounding you... and I thought at the same
time that It was stupid to feel this way. I had to go through great lengths
before I would understand that my place around my 14th child was 'untouchable'.
The
day you announced to me you were in love with your manager, I had to climb up
another mountain... René was grabbing my baby, my love, away form me, and I was
mad at him for that. Like a mother. Forgive me, Céline, if it hurted you. I had
my own dreams regarding your prince charming... We are, sometimes afraid of
being of no more use for our children... But you knew how to prove to me, that
even for a 'planetary' star, nothing replaces a mother.
Remember
Los Angeles, your sorrow and distress when you phoned me. René just felt a
little episode (heart malaise). You were then leaving for France to tour. He
couldn't go with you. 'I would like to be near you, my daughter,'' you answered
me ''that's all I wanted to hear, mother. I need you.'' The day after, we met in
New York and then we headed for Europe. All of France was waiting for you, but
in my head, we were all alone in the world.
You
are going through another rough time. It happens, on occasion, to every one of
my children. Last week, you reassured me, on the phone: everything was going
well. You told me that René was taking the vitamins I had sent him. They are
going to do him good. We exchanged fresh news, and after that, I could breathe!
I felt a lot better, and I went to sow. I sowed a whole little outfit, that same
night!
We
all know that you wish to be a mother yourself. You and I, are we going to be
alike, as mothers? Maybe, on certain points. For example, I know that like me,
hard times are giving you strength and energy. Having said that, you are going
to be a mother of another era. You won't be sawing after your children would
have reassured you! You will have an intense relationship with them, but your
way of living will be different.
I
wish you have the children that you desire, but if they do not come, it wouldn't
be the end of the world. So many children are deprived of parents...
While
waiting, you have many things to accomplish. Your life is not over, my child, it
is only beginning! While René was on the operation table, I looked at you, my
daughter, to realize how alike we are.
I
was only 12 or 14 when my father showed me how to prepare the horse for labour.
The horse was a hundred times bigger than I, and I was scared. ''You must learn
how to approach it'', father was saying ''Only then will you control your
fear''.
When
I saw you take all of René's friends and relatives and shook them, reminding
them it was not the time to cry, your courage appeared to me in all it's
greatness. And I admired you. '' It is your father, it is your friend but it is
also my husband who is fighting'' did you say. What you said, my baby gave
strength to us all. Though, God knows how scared you must have been yourself...
'' We must be strong'', you kept repeating people around you. You knew how to
find the encouraging words for everyone. It warmed my heart to see you this way.
It is like that, Céline, that we must approach life.
These
days, I devote all my time and energy for the 'Bal de la fète des mères''
(Mother's day Ball), which is organized to profit the Achille Tanguay Foundation
(Mrs Dion's father). I couldn't be with you in Florida, but I decided to put my
efforts towards this fundraiser which goal is to help mothers in need, and
honored their courage. It is an act of love, and every time I do so around me,
it is to all my children, grand children, grand grand children I am doing for
equally. It is now my way of being your mother. It is now my way of loving you
all.
Maman
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