It Was 28 Years Ago Today...

That the world lost a fantastic musician, and champion for peace: John Lennon. 28 fateful years ago today, John Lennon was returning home to the Dakota Building in NYC with his wife, Yoko Ono, and was shot to death by a crazed fan named Mark David Chapman. Last summer when I was in New York, I made my pilgrimage to John's last home, and place of tragic death. The spot where the security guard is standing is where John was first shot, and the area just past the gate is where he soon died. John was shot four times in the back, and afterward Chapman calmly waited for the police to arrive. Earlier that same day, Chapman had approached John for an autograph and pictures. If only John had known then that the man he was posing for pictures with would assassinate him later that same day...


As a part of my pilgrimage to the Dakota Building last summer, I went to Strawberry Fields in Central Park (which is right across the street from the Dakota Building) to pay my respects to the area Yoko Ono donated in John's memory. Visiting these sites allowed me to share a piece of history and John Lennon with fellow fans. This is truly a memory I will cherish forever.


I have been a fan of the Beatles and John Lennon for more than half my life. From my initial infatuation, I was impressed with the wit and humor John excelled at, as well as his flair for pointing out the hypocrisy in the world. It saddens me to know that we were only a part of this world together for a brief year, but I have vowed never to forget what John stood for: peaceful coexistence of all people, and the power of music to change lives. For this reason, every December 8th I listen to only Beatles music at work. It's a small yet simple tribute and a sign that I will never forget all that John Lennon gave to this world.