Another Anniversary
John Lennon was shot dead 25 years ago today. Every generation has its moments in time where all is frozen in place; no matter how much time passes between these events and the present you can recall exactly where you were, what you were doing, and who you were with.
My generation's moments include JFK's assassination, the Challenger explosion, and, of course, 9/11. I'll also posit most of us remember all too vividly the day Lennon died.
I was in London, at RAF Uxbridge, sitting in Tech Control wearing a full chemical warfare suit when someone came in and announced Lennon had been shot and was DOA. We were in the midst of our semi-annual war game exercises, and for those of you who have never had the opportunity to discover how incredibly difficult even simple tasks can become when you're wearing an impermeable garment, huge rubber gloves and a gas mask...well, all I can say is you haven't lived!
But I digress. The day went on, we completed the exercise, attended the mandatory de-briefs and generally went on with life. Put it in a box and move on.
That evening The Second Mrs. Pennington and I sat on the floor of our living room watching the Beeb's tribute to Lennon and cried our eyes out. It was traumatic, emotional. Why? Because Lennon gave us things like this:
via Althouse. Read her essay here. Moving beyond words.
John Lennon was shot dead 25 years ago today. Every generation has its moments in time where all is frozen in place; no matter how much time passes between these events and the present you can recall exactly where you were, what you were doing, and who you were with.
My generation's moments include JFK's assassination, the Challenger explosion, and, of course, 9/11. I'll also posit most of us remember all too vividly the day Lennon died.
I was in London, at RAF Uxbridge, sitting in Tech Control wearing a full chemical warfare suit when someone came in and announced Lennon had been shot and was DOA. We were in the midst of our semi-annual war game exercises, and for those of you who have never had the opportunity to discover how incredibly difficult even simple tasks can become when you're wearing an impermeable garment, huge rubber gloves and a gas mask...well, all I can say is you haven't lived!
But I digress. The day went on, we completed the exercise, attended the mandatory de-briefs and generally went on with life. Put it in a box and move on.
That evening The Second Mrs. Pennington and I sat on the floor of our living room watching the Beeb's tribute to Lennon and cried our eyes out. It was traumatic, emotional. Why? Because Lennon gave us things like this:
There are places I'll rememberRIP, John.
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more
via Althouse. Read her essay here. Moving beyond words.
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