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charlene · 09-01-2008, 01:04 PM

Two nights ago on Saturday night in Toronto I had the wonderful pleasure of dining with our dear Florian!
A vacation/travel excursion with his mum had them visiting Toronto on their way across the U.S. and then up into the Vancouver area and he kindly asked me to join them.

Well of course I would! My goodness I (and everyone else there) had not seen the young fellow since his fleeting appearance at Massey Hall back in May 2001. No sooner had hellos and hugs been given that he disappeared and was not seen again!

Well I was determined to make sure that didn't happen again and that we would actually spend some time together!

I am SO glad I did. I met with them at a restaurant near the foot of Yonge and just east off of Church St. a block or so from the lake. What followed was not only a delicious meal but 3 hours of talking and laughing with two lovely, lovely people. I had the best time!

It seems our young Florian (he will be 34 on Dec.4) has his mum to thank for his Lightfoot obsession!

Back in 1968 Mum and Dad came to Toronto from Vienna, Austria when she was 20. She told me that she first heard If You Could Read My Mind back then in a store and that was it! She fell in love with the songs and voice of Gordon Lightfoot. After a few years the decision to move back to Austria was made and in 1974 young Florian joined his older sister in the Bodenseher household in Vienna.
And Gordon Lightfoot went with them..

Mum had never seen a Lightfoot concert until 2001 in Las Vegas. For this current trip they are on she compiled 3 or 4 songs from each era of Lightfoot music for the part of the journey that will be by car.
It sounds like a marvelous journey - planes, trains and automobiles - Bodenseher style!
lol

It was so interesting to hear about politics, education, music, travel from their perspective as citizens so far removed from what I experience daily here in Canada. They had as many questions about things here in Canada/U.S. and I tried my best to answer them!

The time passed much, much too quickly though. I'm sure we'd still be sitting there talking if not for real life stepping in and sending us on our separate journeys.

I thanked Florian, for all of us, for this website and message board and laughingly mentioned that over the years some people have asked if he even existed..lol
His beautiful laugh and sublime accent assured me that since I had taken a couple of pictures that I now had proof that yes, he does exist!

I told him that one day I'd be knocking on his door over there in Vienna - a MOST beautiful city from what I've seen on-line and in travel magazines over the years. I've spent many an hour taking the virtual tour of the museums there!

I certainly hope he and his mum make it a priority to come back to Toronto for the Massey shows in November 2009. Are you listening Florian??

Thanks for inviting me and I hope to see the two of you in November 2009!. Travel safe and hugs to both of you!
Char

09-01-2008, 01:04 PM	#1
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	My Dinner with Florian Two nights ago on Saturday night in Toronto I had the wonderful pleasure of dining with our dear Florian! A vacation/travel excursion with his mum had them visiting Toronto on their way across the U.S. and then up into the Vancouver area and he kindly asked me to join them. Well of course I would! My goodness I (and everyone else there) had not seen the young fellow since his fleeting appearance at Massey Hall back in May 2001. No sooner had hellos and hugs been given that he disappeared and was not seen again! Well I was determined to make sure that didn't happen again and that we would actually spend some time together! I am SO glad I did. I met with them at a restaurant near the foot of Yonge and just east off of Church St. a block or so from the lake. What followed was not only a delicious meal but 3 hours of talking and laughing with two lovely, lovely people. I had the best time! It seems our young Florian (he will be 34 on Dec.4) has his mum to thank for his Lightfoot obsession! Back in 1968 Mum and Dad came to Toronto from Vienna, Austria when she was 20. She told me that she first heard If You Could Read My Mind back then in a store and that was it! She fell in love with the songs and voice of Gordon Lightfoot. After a few years the decision to move back to Austria was made and in 1974 young Florian joined his older sister in the Bodenseher household in Vienna. And Gordon Lightfoot went with them.. Mum had never seen a Lightfoot concert until 2001 in Las Vegas. For this current trip they are on she compiled 3 or 4 songs from each era of Lightfoot music for the part of the journey that will be by car. It sounds like a marvelous journey - planes, trains and automobiles - Bodenseher style! lol It was so interesting to hear about politics, education, music, travel from their perspective as citizens so far removed from what I experience daily here in Canada. They had as many questions about things here in Canada/U.S. and I tried my best to answer them! The time passed much, much too quickly though. I'm sure we'd still be sitting there talking if not for real life stepping in and sending us on our separate journeys. I thanked Florian, for all of us, for this website and message board and laughingly mentioned that over the years some people have asked if he even existed..lol His beautiful laugh and sublime accent assured me that since I had taken a couple of pictures that I now had proof that yes, he does exist! I told him that one day I'd be knocking on his door over there in Vienna - a MOST beautiful city from what I've seen on-line and in travel magazines over the years. I've spent many an hour taking the virtual tour of the museums there! I certainly hope he and his mum make it a priority to come back to Toronto for the Massey shows in November 2009. Are you listening Florian?? Thanks for inviting me and I hope to see the two of you in November 2009!. Travel safe and hugs to both of you! Char Attached Thumbnails