Y is for Yoko Ono

Alright, put down your pitchforks and torches. Although, since you are actually here reading this, you must at the very least be curious why I chose to use a post on Yoko Ono when I could have done Yes or the Yardbirds. Well, like I said with my intro post on April 1, this challenge is about the unexpected. Besides, remember when I told you back with my S entry that we would hear more from my boyfriend Tom who has met a whole bunch of musicians? Well, we are about to.

Yes, I could have told you about anyone else but Yoko, but a personal anectdde, in my opinion, always beats any technicalities. When Tom told me months ago he had met Yoko Ono, I knew I wanted his experience for this project. Being the good guy that he is, he asked me if I was sure that I wanted to risk it (the dislike of Yoko Ono with the masses is no secret). Well, what's the worst that can happen? I could drop back down to three readers, but then you would miss what I have lined up for Z!

(Spotlight, please) Tom says:

I had the pleasure of meeting Yoko at a showing of John's original Bag One Lithographs in the mid '80's. She was escorted into the gallery without any fanfare, she just strolled in you could say and held a meet and greet with the people there to see John's work. As I was waiting in the line to meet Yoko I was so nervous, After all, she is the wife of a Beatle!

When it was my turn to meet her, I went to shake hands with her and she could see me shaking and held my hand in hers and she told me "It's alright, you don't need to be nervous, I'm just a person like you are. Is there any thing you would like to ask me?"

I replied: "I would just like to look into your eyes for a moment so I can see what John did."

She said: "Well, let me take off my sunglasses for a moment then," and she removed her sunglasses and I spent about 30 seconds silently looking into her eyes. I thanked her and she said that she was very touched by my gesture and wished me peace....It is a day I will always remember and cherish.

Love her or hate her, I think it's a cool story.

My friend Glory also pointed out the following video, so I added it as well. The song title seems appropriate. Tom also informed me of another interesting tidbit: "The night that John was murdered he had a cassette of that song in his jacket pocket. They were doing overdubs on that done at the Hit Factory. It was the last song he ever recorded."

And, since I like John Lennon, let me sneak in a video here too.