- 1.Go the Distance
- 2.How Am I Supposed to Live Without You
- 3.The Prayer
- 4.When a Man Loves a Woman
- 5.Steel Bars
- 6.Hear Me (Tears Into Wine)
- 7.Crazy Love
- 8.Nessun Dorma! From Turandot
- 9.Forever Young
- 10.This Is the Time
- 11.Hallelujah
Music
Welcome, Elizabeth O'Brien!
I am from Dublin, Ireland, now living in Canada where my late parents came to retire. I was married but now single. Lived in Kenya for 10 years and found my heart and soul there!! I recall getting off th plane in Nairobi on Sept 8th, 1973 and feeling like I had come home! My husband (also from Ireland, had lived most of his life in East Africa and wanted to return). We found that our lives and belief systems were just too different and we parted ways in Kenya. My husband, aftr a few years being in Kenya died in an aiprlane crash. I carried on living in Kenya. I applied to the Kenyan Government to work a a nurse. They offered me employment but on local terms which meant that I would receive the same salary scale as a Kenyan nurse did. It wsa an eye opener to discover that my colleagues who were educated abroad, were expected to lived on next to nothing. Somehow they survived and I learnt to live frutiallly and simply. Life became easy and was wonderful.
After 10 wonderful years living and working in Kenya until I because seriously ill and had to return to Ireland for medical treatment. Upon my return to Ireland, I felt lost and alone as if I was walking in a desrt alone without any direction.
I decided to emigrate to Canada to look after my elderly parents who were ill. I nursed and cared for them until they passed away. I continued to work as a nurse in oncology department of our local cancer hospital. I reitred from nursing as a home visitng nurse with the VON after experiencing a heart attack. I live alone with my golden retrievers that I have bred for many years as a hobby and took the first three goldens out to Kenya in 1973. My dogs are my love and life line. I have since longed to return to Kenya but the occasion has just never arisen. Somehow I pray that God might show me the way home to Kenya where I long to live out the rest of my life in the country and with the people I love so dearly.
I have been asked to write a book about my life and experiences in Africa , which I am in the midst of doing presently. I am actively involved in Grief Counselling Office in our city of Welland of which I am presently the President as well as a facilitator for those seeking help with unresolved grief.
I am actively involved wit the Women's detox and as the head Group of the volunteers committee for the same.
I am a member of the Irish Cultural Society and involved with the Toronto Irish Emigrants to Canada. Involved and enjoy being a part of the Irish Celtic Music Society of Toronto both as a member and as a musician of Celtic Music.
I have always had a love and passion for music of all sorts. I I would say that despite how hard my father was on me, he did instill this passion for music as well as my passion for people and life. He taught me early on in life that anything worth doing must be done well.
I have always sang in a choir and then when I got involved with the Celtic Society in Toronto, I began singing to entertain people. I have always regretted not pursuing my career in music but I heard Michael sing in S.Africa on his first trip there. I fell in love with his music and admired his passion for music and people. I was in S.Africa the second time he performed there as I was doing some relief work with the UN. and was fortunate enough to be invited to Michael's second concert in S.Africa.. I have lost track of the number of times I have seen him but it would be safe to say that I have now seen him perform on 4 continents now. I saw him in Dublin and at the Royal Albert Hall and several times he has performed here in Canada. Each time I've heard him sing he just seems to get better and better with age. I felt very badly when he performed in Niagara Falls, because I could see he was not well and the friends that I brought to see Michael sing had never heard him sing before and enjoyed his concert. But it was not his best but after hearing how ill he was. It is a miracle that he is still with us today... I have tried desperately to bring our dysfunctional family together by buying tickets to bring my two brothers with me to see Michael perform at the Living Arts Center in Mississauga, Ontario. Neither of my brother had seen Michael perform before and they both were in awe of what a fantastic concert this was. I too much say it was the best ever! I loved his arrangements of songs and duets with Kelly Leveque with her amazing voice and with Sandy??? (from New York City). Both beautiful women with matching voices. It was the best concert ever that I have seen of Michael's. I have purchased tickets for his concert in Montreal, March 11, 2015 on my way to to Ireland and then on to Czeck where I have been asked to speak at the Women's Conference of Violence and abuse to them and their Children under the umbrella of the UN. I just pray that I stay well enough to make the entire trip to Montreal to Michael's concert, then home to Ireland for 2 weeks and then on to Czeck Republic.
So all I can say is "Michael please stay well and take good care of yourself, as I do look forward to seeing you one more time in Montreal in March of next year"
To any of you who have not had the great fortune of seeing Michael perform live. It is a must to do!
After hearing Michael sing in June 3rd in Mississauga, He inspired me to carry on living and live my life to the fullest and never give up hope.. So after his concert, I made the decision to try to go back to Kenya sometime next year to live my life there and help a young man and his wife who have opened an orphanage for children. They are at capacity or overflow with some 342 children and not enough trained staff to help them. So with the proceeds of the sale of my home, I intend to go back and help them train staff to carry on this great project to provide a new life and hope to these orphaned children. What I saw when I lived there for 10 years has haunted me over the years and I have felt this pull to to return there.
As well as my passion and love for music, and nursing and caring for children and the dying. I have always had a passion for my beloved Goldens who have been my soul mates as I have walked my journey in life in Kenya, Ireland and in Canada. I used to raise Goldens as a hobby and then trained them as therapy/service dogs and donate some to the agencies who provide such dogs for children (especially)with special needs.To me my Golden Retrievers personify my belief of a God who loves unconditionally and never judges. And this is exactly how my dogs have always been with me. Loving me unconditionally, never judging me when I get angry with them and just always there for me.... What more could one person ask for than that in life.Here is a link to my website about my golden retrievers call Lueo Golden Retrievers: http://www.lueogoldens.com Pay my site a visit and enjoy the music and picture on there.
I look forward to chatting and contributing to some of the converation threads on Michael Bolton's website.
With Love & Best Wishes to All,
Liz O'Brien
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Michael has a milestone birthday coming up in February 2018. I ran an idea past Gail that passed with approval.
I have small cards that are 2.5X3.5. The idea for the card is not to say happy birthday, but you have room to put a few sentences to tell Michael why you love him, his music or how his music helped you in hard times. It’s should be big enough for a wallet size photo if you would like.
Then when he’s home sitting at his desk, he can pull 1 or 2 cards to read when he has the time. Our words will be with him all year.
I request a SASE, and I will send you a card. Write your note and put in your picture. When your finished, mail it back to me.
For those out of the country, I checked with my postmaster and she said you can put your own postage on the return envelope equivalent to $1.15 US.
Email me, Sally, at MYSCRTPSSN@gmail.com and I can give you an address to send your SASE (self addressed stamped envelope).
A second option that isn’t as personal, is to email me a short note and I can cut and paste it onto a card for you. I don’t want to handle pictures this way because I’m not that computer literate and don’t want to make errors with something as personal as a picture.
When all the cards are gathered, I’ll put them in some sort of decorate box. And the box of cards will be Michael’s birthday gift from us.
It might seem early, but it’s something that we can work on Now through January. I’d like to be finished by February since I would need to get a box and mail it off to Michael.
Your welcome to share my email with anyone you think may be interested in contributing to Michael’s milestone 65!
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Sally
Hi Liz and thanks for your friend request. I’ve just visited your page and read your very interesting bio: you’ve had quite a life! According to your text, you wrote last year that you were planning to come to Montreal to see Michael back in March: did you?I also checked your discussions and read that you’d asked about the David Foster event last month: were you able to attend that one as well? March was a challenging time for me because my husband had had a work accident, but I managed to go and had a wonderful time with my daughter. I know our friend Usha was able to attend the David Foster event and she had a blast. Well anyway, I’m off to breakfast, thanks again Liz, take care. Hugs, sincerely, Sylvie Qc Canada :D
Hi Liz, since I’ve just discovered that you’re a Canadian fan, I just wanted to bring your attention to a thread where I post information relating to Canadian fans. I think I’m the most active Canadian fan on the forum, so whenever I hear something relating to tours, TV etc, I post it there:
http://www.michaelbolton.com/forum/topics/canadian-fans
Which reminds me, I should post the info Sylvia posted too... Well anyway, that’s it for now. Take good care Liz. Hugs, sincerely, Sylvie Qc Canada :D
Welcome Elizabeth
Marie from Prague
Hello Elizabeth and thank you for your much welcomed friend request , and for taking the time to write to me , its always a pleasure to speak to folk on here ,I love this site , and yes Sylvia doughty Is a lovely lady & is always very helpful too , as is the lovely Sylvie Boisvert across the pond in CANADA , we have some lovely folk on here , and we all have our wonderful Michael in common , and the fact that we all want to get our hands on him LOL , oh bless him, Its a wonder he's not terrified of all us lady's , although I have never chased a man , this is the nearest iv come ! HE'HE , Wow what an exciting life you've been having ! travelling and taking risks ! and what an honour to visit Nelson Mandela's home town , id love to travel , but fear travelling , guess I'M just not used to it, I am sorry to hear about your hubby though , that must be really hard for you ! I'm married myself , but my hubby is married to football , I failed to realise that when I married him , and find myself speaking to the back of a laptop most of the time , if I speak to him LOL ,It's a wonder I'm marred at all really because of my past ! although my husband is not violent ! thank god , Iv had a horrible life before that ,from a violent father to violent and abusive past lovers , iv been having anxiety attacks from the age of 5 ! and its left me quite weary and nervous of men , But on a better note I do have four gorgeous children , Kelly 26 who's currently at the royal collage of fashion & the university of preforming arts in LONDON , she has a wonderful strong powerful voice , and I'm just so proud of her , lewis 20 he's a manager of a cleaning company , and doing well , Kie'ran 14 coming up to 15 in February who's so tall I have to stretch my neck looking up to him , he's a worry though as he is so vulnerable , he is autistic , and I worry sick over him as, HULL Is a nice place in some ways , but can be very rough at times living here ! he is very clever lad though ! and a real whizz in many different subjects. And lastly Hannah Rosie who is my little minxy as I call her , she is 8 , coming up to 9 in February , she is strong natured like me , and makes me laugh , as she is so old fashioned in some ways . I see you love your dogs , I lost my black Labrador on the 14'th of December last Christmas ! His name was Kingston ! I loved him so much , I loved him like you would a child , he was four and a half and his gut twisted ! it was a total night mare , When I got him to the vets they wanted 2 and a half grand to Operate on him , and I just didn't have that type of money ! I hated the fact that , that it all came down to money ! I felt so hopeless! but they said he wouldn't live anyway ! I was so angry with myself over that ! he was just like the one I had as child , I now have Samuel , he's a black Labrador too, my son lewis bought me him , he has just chewed through the hoover cable , so I'm just off to the DIY to buy a cable connector to fix it , its a good job the hoover was unplugged at the time , anyway enough about all that ! I love Michaels music and find It so inspiring ! since I was a very young women to the present day ! its lifted my soul ! and gotten me through some very tough times , Iv laughed and cried my eyes out over the years to his music , and I thank him dearly for that ! I have never seen him yet ! and its all I go on about ! and its my biggest dream to meet him ! although I fear I might cry if I did and I wouldn't want people to know that I'm such a softy under this ice cap exterior . take care my friend , love and best wishes to you , love suzy xxx
Hi Elizabeth and thank you for your very touching and endearing sharing of your lives experiences and I wish you well in your dream to return to Kenya one day. I will also visit your site and thank you for the link into it. I have come on to leave you a message I like to send to knew members and I hope you don't mind if I leave it for you and I sincerely hope you will join with us in the forum section and here is the message I send ........... WELCOME to the website and I do hope you will join us in the forum section we have here which can be found by going to the "Connect" heading on your page and then clicking on "forums" when that appears above and that is where we all come together and discuss everything to do with Michael and below I have given you links into threads that we have where things are pretty active. A hint for right now is when you find something you want to follow you must indicate that fact and what you do is indicate that you wish to follow a category or thread within a category and you will then be notified by e-mail from "Michael Bolton" that either a new thread has been started within the category or, that a new post/comment has been entered in thread, you are following. For categories you will find indication box at foot of first page for each category and for threads it is located under the "reply" box toward top of page in each thread and you must change settings to show "stop following" when you want to follow.
If you have any questions about the website or forum please do not hesitate to come onto my page and I will try to answer as best I can. Should also inform you that Gail Atkinson is the moderator of the website. I should like to make it clear that I am in no way connected to admin, it is only Gail that holds any admin position.
Please enjoy your look around website and most of all, please consider staying with us and giving Michael all the support he so richly deserves !! :)
Sylvia. Your wee Scottish friend.
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Michael singing "Hallelujah" in Minsk, Belarus on Wednesday, 15th May....stupendous !! :)
http://youtu.be/YRWkmPRT7R0