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Love, John Lennon & Yoko Ono 1980

Of course we all know Lennon died in December, 1980 but I wanted to share an amazing story that has become a part of family lore in our house.

Back in October, 1980 my brother and I wrote to many celebrities on behalf of my grandparents' impending 50th anniversary, soliciting wishes, advice and sentiments to include in an album for them.

As young lads of 17 and 14 at the time, John Lennon was at the top of our list. So in October of 1980 a letter (and cringe-worthy "Yellow Submarine" rendering) were sent to Lennon's residence at the Dakota.

Of course, we all know how the story ends in December, 1980. Time passed and the years went on. Two to be exact. So it was a bit of a shock in mid-1982 when Yoko Ono's office called (they had somehow tracked our information down, likely from the return envelope) to say that they had gone into a room that had been closed off since John's death and found something from him for us, and would we still be interested in it?

I'm pretty sure they offered to send it in the mail, but not wanting to risk it (or miss the opportunity to visit the Dakota) I told them I would come in to the city and made arrangements to pick it up the next day.

The very next day, I found myself standing outside the Dakota. After making a phone call, the doorman standing outside, ushered me from the archway to the vestibule where I was met by Yoko's assistant who produced the inscribed illustration you see here today, signed in the final weeks of John Lennon's life, and with the '1980' inscription.

To this day I am affected by the fact that he was never to have the 'many more happy & healthy years' he wished my grandparents.

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Permalink Reply by hitmanten on May 9, 2013 at 2:47pm

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Williams on May 9, 2013 at 3:10pm

What a fantastic story, hope your Grandparents saw it. A truly beautiful item.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on May 9, 2013 at 3:57pm

gives me goose bumps

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Permalink Reply by J.Seah on May 9, 2013 at 3:32pm

Wow!!! Can you please post a full picture??? Thanks

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Permalink Reply by hitmanten on May 9, 2013 at 4:31pm

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Permalink Reply by Xperttexpert on May 9, 2013 at 5:33pm

blown away!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on May 9, 2013 at 6:16pm

Wow.

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Permalink Reply by Ricky H on May 9, 2013 at 7:00pm

AMAZING! such a great story. Such a wonderful human being

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Permalink Reply by John McGinnis on May 9, 2013 at 8:46pm

the great thing about John is that later after the breakup and all of the animosity, he still "Got it" and understood why people were Beatles fans and acknowledged that. He didn't really want to go back there himself, he wanted to be left to do his own thing the way he wanted to. He was totally cool if you wanted to like the Beatles and not his or Yokos solo stuff and he was totally cool if you did. He just wanted to be left to do what he wanted - and he did that. A true artist that we will never see the likes of again.