Bye Bye Casablanca
Bye Bye Casablanca. Our relationship goes back to my very first day in life, even my very first second. Even though on paper, I am registered as being born in Figuig, my parents home town, on the 16th of February, I actually I was born in Casablanca sometime in late January 1968. I have traveled a lot, and I have loved some cities, hated others, but Casablanca will always hold a special place in my heart.
Bye Bye Casablanca. I have seen your many faces, and the take time had on your physionomy. I remember when we were children, you and I, and you were already a promise of a metropolitan culture. I remember when your seaside's nights were rocked by Elvis, the Beattles, the Eagles, Jhon Lennon, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, David Bowie, ABBA, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Simon&Garfunkel, ...etc. At that time, you were still as oriental as ever, and your evenings echoed the songs of Oum Kalthoum, Mohammad Abdelwahab, Abelhalim Hafiz, Farid Al Atrash, Nazim Al ghazali, Sabah Fakhri ...etc. Your beaches in the summer danced Flamenco, your weddings sounded Andalucian tarab, and in the trenches, one could loudly hear the reborn pop music of Nass Al Ghiwane...
Bye Bye Casablanca. You saw me grow, and witnessed my early successes and failures. You brought me my first loves, my passion for electronics and then for computers, my inability to learn music or dance, my first ink portraits, my first poems. You inspired my dreams, and showed me the stars and the comets.You also saw me part from you for a few years, looking for other constallations, but reclaimed me so strongly I dwindled back in a hurry.
Bye Bye Casablanca. You were harsh on me when I started my first business. I started in a market with 3 competitors, and 12 more saw the light within 6 months... You were harsh on me as well when you let my best friend and business partner whom I loved silently get killed for the stupidest of reasons. You made me glorious in the culture market, and then in the PR market, but each time letting me down at the highest of my vain glory. Were you just reminding me of my first and truest passions ? You gave me a home for my sweetest moments, gave me a the sweetest of daughters, then turned my life into neverending conflicts. You still gave me a nest from which I could get reborn from my ashes...
Bye Bye Casablanca. I don't think I know you anymore. While I was busy with my little ambitions and daily troubles, you changed so much on me. You music is no longer mine. You don't even seem to be keen on diversity anymore. Your gardens and parks don't look green anymore. Your dreams seem so far away from mine. I can hardly find anything to tell you anymore... Or maybe I grew up on you, and you don't recognize me anymore.
Bye Bye Casablanca. I will miss you a lot. Sure I will come every so often and visit. You will always have a precious spot in my heart and big chunk of my memory, but it is time we part and become friends again...
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4/22/2005 5:52:06 PM UTC 
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