It appears John Lennon's death is at or approaching an anniversary. I don't like the Beatles. Never have...except one song, but that is another topic...anywho...I am 26, I know very little about the Beatles history. My mom graduated high school, my dad too, in 1978. My mom told me tonight about where she was when she heard the news. She was with my dad and aunt at a Pizza Hut in Merrillville, IN...that has nothing to do with me except the news channel I watch the most was playing a special on Lennon, or Lenon...I don't know and I am sorry I don't care enough right now to research the actual spelling of his name. I'm not callous or insensitive, its just that I simply don't know and that isn't what this post is about...
When I was about 9 or 10 years old my dad came in my room to say goodnight and tuck me in. I was on the top bunk of bunkbeds, my sister ont he bottom. He said goodnight to her first, as always and then stood up (he was 6'2") and said goodnight to me. I told him I was out of books to read and that we needed to go to the bookstore soon (yes, there was a library, but one cannot make notations and highlight a library book). He told me he had a book he thought I may like, but he wasn't sure it was appropriate as it was highly controversial, but he believed I was old enough to read and, he believed, understand. So he handed me his original copy of The Catcher in the Rye. And at 9 years old, I read and only half understood the book.
By the time I got to high school and it was a required reading I had read the book many, many times. The copy our class bought had a different cover than the book my dad gave me. I have been told my copy is unique...to be quite honest I am not entirely sure where my copy, from my dad, is. I think it is in an old diaper box in the closet of my almost 5 year old daughter. I hope it is.
The thing that link Lenon (lennon) to this post and my first experience with this book is that the man that murdered the Beatles legend was carrying this Salinger classic (by the way, I remember where I was when I heard Salinger had died). I know this book has often been linked to...well, infamous occurrences...it bothers me that this book means so very much to me and my dad.
Music CAN change the world...so...I love Elvis and I believe you love Elvis or you love the Beatles. I love Elvis...buuuuuut there is this ONE Beatles song and JMK, I have a very vivid memory of coming home from a vacation at Lake Arrowhead with you guys and the Fitz family and you guys and us stopped at what I remember as a BAR with darts and a jukebox and pumped a lot of money into said jukebox and I picked 2 songs, and Elvis hit and a Beatles hit. Teddy Bear was the Elvis song and it played...my Beatles pick did not...and dad waited and waited and waited just so I could hear it and it never came up...here it is...

Hey Jude don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

Hey Jude don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better

And any time you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
 
Hey Jude don't let me down
You have found her now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

So let it out and let it in
Hey Jude begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you
Hey Jude you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
 
Hey Jude don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it better


I may  not love the Beatles and I may not know anything about them and their history...I am a life long, born and bred Cubs fan. Today we lost a legend, an icon...an exceptional human being. God bless the Lenon family and God bless the Santo family. Baseball on the radio will never be worth listening to for me. Maybe Ron can get to the HOF now...