"CLOSE TO ME"
Schmaltz alert!
Considering I'm say, under 40, believe it or not I remember exactly what I was doing 26 years ago. I remember because there hasn't been a day in my life that I wasn't a Beatles fan. I'm the kid of Beatles fans, the niece of more Beatles fans and the cousin of still more Beatles fans. So, I remember our rusty-red kitchen with bamboo shades and the shitty little black and white television on the coutertop in the corner showing the Dakota building and my Mother's gasp followed by a shrill and sad no upon hearing John Lennon had been shot.
To pay my respects to my favorite Beatle, six years ago tonight, Captain Fusha and I wandered out after dinner into 12-degree weather to Central Park. We stood at the Imagine mosiac for over an hour with hundreds of other people and everyone gasped when Yoko came to the window across the street. A JL impersonator (what a weird and specific job, right?) stepped forward with a guitar and sang Beatles and Lennon solo covers and everyone shivered but stayed and sang and finally, crunchy-hokey-granola as it may be, finally finally when he played "Imagine" after an observed minute of silence, I couldn't help but well up. Okay, I did more than well-up, I full-on quiet-cried, but welled up maybe sounds more dignified. Right? Huh? Hello? Okay, maybe not. Anyway, waterworks. 
There is a weird bond I find with Lennonites. Sure, not many people flat-out dislike the Beatles or Lennon, but when I see a tiny bit of Lennon paraphanalia pop up in unexpected places, it makes me glad. It makes me think You're a complete stranger and I don't know a thing about you but maybe just maybe we appreciate the man for the same reasons so somehow you must be okay.
Randomly, I was given a Lennon trading card (like, um, a baseball card) that I've never brought myself to throw away. Years ago, a not-too-secret admirer scrawled a Lennon quote into a Valentine card (didn't work, but a sweet gesture, sure). I've seen JL images pop up in a shopping mall in the middle-of-nowhere south, scribbled in Sharpie on a subway train window in NYC with a Y2K message, framed in a condo's blue bathroom, on an otherwise ghetto keychain, tattooed on a shoulderblade, spraypainted on a dumpster, and today, of course, on t-shirts peeking out between heavy coats.
(Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya'aseh shalom)
Especially after such a scary day in Chicago.
Sigh...
On a happier note, I finally got around to seeing Little Miss Sunshine last night. It's lovely. I loved it. Seen it? Anyone?
18 comments:
If I write you a John Lennon quote in a Valentine's Day card, will it work? What about if I throw in wildflowers (I know I don't like roses)?
I've been missing you. I haven't been by your blog in ages. How have you been? Did you miss me?
I meant, "I know I remember that you don't like roses".. I corrected a typo and fouled it all up. Sorry, pretty.
Shabbot Shalome...?
Jake. A couple things: I don't observe V-Day, so no. Indeed, I don't care for roses, but there is no need for you to send flowers. Or anything else. Also, one cannot miss one she has never met and I think you perhaps meant Shabbat Shalom...? Did I leave anything out? Nope. I think that about covers it.
back in the day when you had a day job didn't you work by where that shooting happened?
I fully remember that day too (and that kitchen). I remember how sad I felt when I heard the news and wondering how in the world could someone kill such a gentle soul as John Lennon. I still miss JL. And George Harrison too.
Glad you are safe after a rather scary day for Chicago.
Mom
What gives with all of these anonymous comments lately? Eh well.
Sort of but not really. A handful of years ago I worked in the neighborhood, but not right there. I went there for lunch if I wasn't rushed to get back, but that was the extent of my involvement. I lived close and usually walked to work in those days, no trains involved unless the weather sucked.
Mom, I've always suspected that deep down Paul was your favorite Beatle. Admit it! Admit it!
There! Shit!
I said it.
Jake, you're an idiot. You have no idea how to woo this woman. I'll bet I can, though.
I am both entertained and horrified that 80s film characters are having a showdown on my blog, just as an aside.
When something gets in your way, turn!
I LOVE Little Miss Sunshine!!! Could you have died when the little girl started her striptease?
Dana, I think the striptease was funny beyond, but for me, it's a toss-up between the dinner table suicide explanation scene and the "you gotta fuck a lot of women" scene in the van.
Man, Alan Arkin was a riot!
They all were, really.
Haha, good one, Charles DeMar. Great reference to a great movie.
"Lane, I've been going to this high school for seven and a half years. I'm no dummy."
Franch Fries.
Franch Dressing.
Franch Toast.
I particularly loved the scene where they are having the big fight in the gas station parking lot, slam the van doors and then silently roll out of the parking lot.
Oh Amy, I was about to type, "You hadn't seen Little Miss Sunshine???" and then I remembered you're not a big movie person. My personal favorite of the year. Too bad it hit so early in the year, I fear it may be overlooked come Oscar time.
I just read about what happened downtown. In a weird twist of fate, I wrapped up an interview early and was able to catch the 2:35 Metra. I get shivers just writing that...someone was looking out for me. To think about the connection with John Lennon and my own post for today makes me start to full-on cry a little, too.
I prefer "film snob"...
Glad you are okay, Sparkyroo!
Ok,OK! I admit it. I had acrush on Paul, after all he was called "the cute Beatle". But there was always something about George.....Hmmmm.
Mom
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