John Lennon’s life is still celebrated

It’s strange to be able to miss a man you’ve never met, yet you feel your life, as good as it is, would only be that much better if Lennon were still alive. So many questions, such as where to go from here? Are we inspired to tap into the version of John Lennon that’s in all of us, feel his influence in whichever way we do? He seemed really “up there” when we were kids at the time he was putting out “Double Fantasy”. “Wow, he’s got wrinkles, man, he’s like FORTY!! Can rock stars still make records when they’re…FORTY??? (Oh, wow)”

This morning I listened to what I think is his best album, “Walls & Bridges”. It’s very introspective and honest, much like most of the songs in his catalogue. Later on, as I worked, I listened to his BBC interview with Andy Peebles. This one holds a special meaning to me because this is the first one I’d heard right after his murder, and it was taped just two days before. Later on, I took some quiet time to examine my feelings about his death, why I still mourn him. I was 17 when he was killed, and I’m now 57. It’s not me who’s missing out, but it’s John Lennon himself. He’s missing out on the gift that middle-age can be. He’s missing out on the fact that all his craziness is behind him, esp[ecially now that he would have been 80. He’s missing out on watching his two sons grow into middle-age adult men themselves. He’s missing out on enjoying his life as he would see fit. When I feel sad about John Lennon’s death, it’s because of that.

I’m grateful for years of memories, such as when I’d gone through a phase of KISS and disco, and even had that awful Sgt Pepper movie soundtrack. I was listening to it one night when it dawned on me that I could be listening to the real thing. Then at birthdays and Christmases, it was “I’d like a Beatles album, please”. I started catching back up and even had the gift of reruns of the cartoon series in which I would hear Beatle songs I’d never heard before. I even saw Magical Mystery Tour for the first time ever on an independent local station at 5:00 in the morning. I set my alarm and really enjoyed it. An album of rarities was being issued, Paul was coming out with McCartney II, and there were rumours of John going back into the studio. The minute I read the article, I was tempted to call record shops asking if they knew anything about it and when the new record would be out. I was thrilled when I heard “(Just Like) Starting Over” for the first time. I chuckled at his vocal, thinking it sounded like Elvis, and that’s exactly what he meant. He meant it to be tongue-in-cheek, he meant it to be a parody. I felt bad about laughing at it, but was thrilled when I discovered I got the joke, it was as if I were in on it. “Watching the Wheels” came next and it was even better than the first song. On the afternoon of December 8, I ran off to a department store down the block from school and headed straight for the record shelves. “Double Fantasy” was already sold out. I was disappointed but then thought to ask for it for Christmas. This was going to be the best Christmas ever if I did get the record, and then, twelve hours later…

OUR NEIGHBORS ARE OUR GREATEST RESOURCE

(Family-Friendly Living in Jesus’ name)

When you find yourself amused by a particular comment, a clever witticism, or the sight of your dementia-stricken grandfather slipping on the concrete stairway and falling to his doom, it’s most appropriate to refrain from a guffaw, a belly-laugh or making any raucous sounds to display said feeling of merriment.  Instead, you will grin with a closed mouth and go “hmm hmm hmm”.  Loud laughter can be misconstrued as a sign of social and sexual naivete, being born with learning disabilities and fetal alcohol syndrome, and this is a facet upon which your neighbors will negatively judge you. 

When your niece’s well-to-do in-laws ask what you do for a living, it’s always best to answer with a humble facial expression, wide eyes and a slightly lowered head.  It’s preferred that you would bow and scrape a little, just to get on their good side.  It’s an honor to be asked about your humble, meager existence and you should be thanking God for the privilege.  If you roll your eyes one more time, they might get stuck in that position – and that wouldn’t look nice for the neighbors. 

When you get a job, you have to know that that’s going to be your life.  Unavoidable layoffs are a real stigmata.  The neighbors will spread rumours and think that all you do is smoke and drink, watch daytime tv and fling the cat across the room.  So DON’T GET A CAT, become a dog guy.

Hey, Big Guy, you gotta kiss ass.  The first thing you do is get to know your boss.  Never trust any of your coworkers, they’re nobodies and you should never have anything to do with them, because it’s your boss from whom all good things come.  Slap him on the back, become his pal, ask him how his wife and kids are.  Make good eye contact and really listen, don’t let your eyes glaze over as you dream of stepping on the third rail at the train station rather than spending any time around YOUR BOSS.  You’ll be there for years and years and years….decades….and years.   So, for Christ’s sake, GET A SUIT!!!

If you get married, and there’s something wrong with you if you don’t, then make sure it’s somebody of the opposite sex, equal or higher grade point average, but with the same color, but a higher income level than your own, but the same religion, which is best for the children so they won’t be teased in school.  The neighbors usually tend to look down upon teased children, and their families, and they always exclude them from the best parties.

Oh, but, uh, make sure they can walk and talk by the time they’re 6 months old and have them reading at the age of 3.   

NOW LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT:

Uh, different, yet the same…separate but equal, yes?   

Yes that’s right, but NO DIVERSITY – that’s never done anyone any good, except for the wrong people, and we wouldn’t want to be seen with that element out in public, not to mention in our home.  Oh, what would people say.

WHAT ABOUT POLITICS:

Always up to the husband.  As the head of the house, he’s always right about these matters.  It’s important to let HIM speak, and to decide for whom we’ll all cast our votes.  It’ll always be an older white man with a good-looking suit.  They always know what they’re doing. 

PLEASING YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL ENSURE A JUDGMENT FREE LIFE – ALL A PART OF FAMILY FRIENDLY LIVING IN JESUS’S NAME.

GOD HAS SPOKEN.

Personality

PERSONALITY

Well, the reporters are gone

The cops, they told them “move on”

Do you remember, he’s been on t.v.

Must’ve been a famous personality

He stabs his wife in the face

They made it all about race

Wouldn’t you know it, he walks scot-free

He used to be a white-bread personality

He made a sweet, fine track

Yet he didn’t think back

“It sounds familiar – oh, no – it can’t be…”

So, if you think it’s George’s,

No, it’s not – it’s Chiffon……….

OUR NEIGHBORS ARE OUR GREATEST RESOURCE

OUR NEIGHBORS ARE OUR GREATEST RESOURCE

(All a Part of Family-Friendly Living in Jesus’ name)

When you find yourself amused by a particular comment, a clever witticism, or the sight of your dementia-stricken grandfather slipping on the concrete stairway and falling to his doom, it’s most appropriate to refrain from a guffaw, a belly-laugh or making any raucous sounds to display said feeling of merriment.  Instead, you will grin with a closed mouth and go “hmm hmm hmm”.  Loud laughter is an indication of social and sexual naivete, being born with learning disabilities and mental retardation, and this is a facet upon which your neighbors will negatively judge you. 

When your niece’s well-to-do in-laws ask what you do for a living, it’s always best to answer with a humble facial expression, wide eyes and a slightly lowered head.  It’s preferred that you would bow and scrape a little, just to get on their good side.  It’s an honor to be asked about your humble, meager existence and you should be thanking God for the privilege.  If you roll your eyes one more time, they might get stuck in that position – and that wouldn’t look nice for the neighbors. 

When you get a job, you have to know that that’s going to be your life.  Unavoidable layoffs are a real stigmata.  The neighbors will spread rumours and think that all you do is smoke and drink, watch daytime tv and fling the cat across the room.  So DON’T GET A CAT, become a dog guy.

Oh, and, uh, you gotta do everything you can to stay at that job.  You gotta kiss ass.  The first thing you do is get to know your boss.  Never trust any of your coworkers, they’re nobodies and you should never have anything to do with them, because it’s your boss from whom all good things come.  Slap him on the back, become his pal, ask him how his wife and kids are.  Make good eye contact and really listen, don’t let your eyes glaze over as you dream of stepping on the third rail at the train station rather than spending any time around YOUR BOSS.  You’ll be there for years and years and years….decades….and years.   So, for Christ’s sake, GET A SUIT!!!

If you get married, and there’s something wrong with you if you don’t, then make sure it’s somebody of the opposite sex, equal or higher grade point average, but with the same color, but a higher income level than your own, but the same religion, which is best for the children, and they won’t be teased in school.  That’s what the neighbors like, for they tend to look down upon teased children, and their families, and they always exclude them from the best parties.

Oh, but, uh, make sure they can walk and talk by the time their 6 months old and have them reading at the age of 3. 

NOW LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT:

Uh, different, yet the same…separate but equal, yes?   

Yes that’s right, but NO DIVERSITY – that’s never done anyone any good, except for the wrong people, and we wouldn’t want to be seen with that element out in public, not to mention in our home.  Oh, what would people say.

WHAT ABOUT POLITICS:

Always up to the husband.  As the head of the house, he’s always right about these matters.  It’s important to let HIM speak, and to decide for whom we’ll all cast our votes.  It’ll always be an older white man with a good-looking suit.  They always know what they’re doing. 

PLEASING YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL ENSURE A JUDGMENT FREE LIFE – ALL A PART OF FAMILY FRIENDLY LIVING IN JESUS’S NAME.

GOD HAS SPOKEN.