New York City--Central Park--STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER
A Tribute to John Lennon:
December 8th, 1980. It seems like so LONG ago. I had just lost my father and was up at night unable to sleep. The tv was on but I don't remember watching it-just a news flash and I couldn't comprehend it. I knew they said John Lennon was shot but didn't know whether they said he was alive or not.
It was one of those indefinable moments that changes you somehow-by a person you have never met but has had such a profound effect on you. Of course I remembered the Beatles and their very first trip to New York-and appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
It was his later years, though, that I remember the most; his love of his son, Sean. He was the first Mr. Mom and was proud of it. And his love of New York City and all the court battles he endured to stay in a city he loved. His "Bed-Ins" were notorious and it was reported that when asked WHY he was doing that he replied in an offhand manner that "ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE."
I think of the years of lost music we will never have but I also think of the incredible legacy he left behind. To this day, thousands of people gather in Central Park in New York City and all over the world to mourn his passing and rejoice in his life. Having been at Strawberry Fields in the summer, I found it too difficult to stay there and photograph it. Laura did and I put up the post "IMAGINE." IMAGINE--A Manhattan Feng Shui Consultant in Central Park--See Strawberry Fields
Here are some of those shots again and a few of The Dakota building where he lived-and where he was killed but never gone....his music and legacy lives on forever.
The Side Entrance of The Dakota Building.
Where John Lennon was shot--New York City. Strawberry Fields is directly across the street in Central Park New York City.
John Lennon, we miss you!
*This post is late but I wanted to post it--for someone we will always remember.
Copyright "New York City--Strawberry Fields Forever" by Feng Shui Long Island and New York City Consultants Carole Provenzale and Laura Cerrano
Great tribute Carole. I always like that IMAGINE song to go with this post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEOkxRLzBf0
Carole- What nice photos you took and shared with those of us who are not there and have not been there. Thank you.
Beautiful tribute Carole. It made me cry and whenever I hear "Imagine" I cry too. What a beautiful soul that was stolen from us much too soon. He gave us so much.
Carole - What a wonderful tribute. Thank you for reminding us of this amazing artist and activist, not that we could forget, but I appreciate the tribute very much. I try to Imagine and Give Peace a Chance... as do you. I know my daughter does, and I don't know if she's ever even experienced these songs (very bad parenting on my part, which will be corrected tomorrow).
Very nice Carole -- I love the photos. I almost feel like I am there. John certainly left a great legacy!
Aw...geez. That brought back sooo many memories Carole. What a wonderful musician and forever will be remembered.
We walked by the Dakota and through strawberry fields today. A beautiful place to walk through and see all of the people come out.
We walked by the Dakota and through strawberry fields today. A beautiful place to walk through and see all of the people come out.
Oh Carole - my daughter thinks she's the reincarnation of John Lennon, lol...........we were just looking at your photos here and she absolutely loves John Lennon........great tribute :-)
Nice tribute/photos Carole. We visited NYC a few years ago and went to the very spots you photographed. I was surprised at the size of the Dakota, impressed with the Imagine mosaic, and amazed at how many people were there taking photos, on a regular day.
Awesome. Melody and Richard are going to love this post. Very well done. :-D
Carole: Losing John Lennon was such a terrible waste. SUch a talent he was. His music continues to inspire us... and what is even better than that... some of his music makes us dream. A great tribute... thanks so much for sharing.
Carole I remember the day that he was shot. It was a very drery day in the Northeast.
Carole,
My Mom was a big John Lennon fan--I must direct her to this beautiful tribute to him and his legacy.
Carole - what a beautiful tribute to a man that was not only an extremely talented songwriter, but a man with deep values about love, peace and family. Like many before him - his life was too short.
Carole ~ My son just did a video for a class he has at college on New York. He and his team chose Central Park and did a snippet on Strawberry Fields (along with other areas in the park). John Lennon and the Beatles were one of the first albums I ever got as a kid.
Nice tribute Carole. I remember the day too.
My first album was Meet The Beatles Kathy. what was yours? Of course I was very young at the time LOL.
Hi Carole,
What a detailed visual display of John Lennon's place and photos.
My family and I are coming down to NYC on Dec 25th - Jan 5th to visit my Italian 84 year old Aunt Marilda who lives in Staten Island, NY.
My two teenage daughters will probably find this interesting, so I think I'm going to take them to the site.
Thanks for a Great blog on John Lennon!!!
;>)
All You Need is LOVE ! written & performed by John Lennon - is one of my favorite!
Rings true still today!
Thanks for the awesome tribute post Carol - I enjoyed your photos!
Sincerely,
Grace
Gary, Thank you do posting it! I learned the other way--now I have to get used to this way of using YouTube :( What a very special person we lost.
Katerina, I was late getting this up but wanted to show it as well. I think of this very special place and person every single year.
Cristal, He did and I'm thankful for the many years of wonderful music and incredible spirit that he left behind.
Chris, He gave us some very special music. And values--he fought to stay in the City that he loved and WON!
Joan, He cetainly did leave a beautiful legacy...so much so that so many years later there are still thousands at Strawberry Fields every year.
Sally, I know many people resonated with what he sang and what he stood for. Someday I hope we can Give Peace a Chance.
Morgan, It is a very quiet and beautiful place---but just makes me so sad--it's there far too early. I'm glad you got a chance to get there.
Liz, I'm glad your daughter likes the post....and must play some lovely music. It's nice to know his music transends generations.
Cheryl, I love Central Park...all of it. I get lost in there for hours and am so glad you were there too. The Dakota is huge and Iit was the same architecht that did the Plaza.
Carolyn, Thank you. I don't have the software to edit photos and always hope they come out ok--but I just ordered a new computer and am hoping I learn it :)
Karen Anne, I think so many of us miss him...and wonder what magic he would have been able to create. Still, he left an amazing legacy and will always be missed.
Gayle, I think it was dreary all over the world. So many places had special memorials for him on that day every year.
Cynthia, I hope she enjoys it. It was a terrible loss of such a special person and still so sad.
Carol, You said it beautifully (as always). He stood for many things and I always thought he loved the life he was living on his terms.
Kathy, I would love to see the video if you can post it or do a blog on it. I love Central Park so much, it's the first place I head on the very first day it's warm enough to walk for hours.
Paddy, I think I have it, I know I have most of their albums if not all. I always treasured my albums and kept them--and actually play them :)
Ann-Marie, I hope you get to spend some time in the City--I think you and your kids will just love it! And of course I hope you have a wonderful visit with your Aunt.
Grace, Thank you for adding that! Ok, you taught me the other way to post videos, if you're up for it again please give me a call :)
This is a beautiful touching post. It warms my heart. Thank you!
Colleen, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I'm fortunate that I'm close to the City and love to show places that others haven't seen yet.
Spectacular job here Carole. I'm heading to NYC in the morning with my friend Christy and we're going to be making our 2nd trip this year to Strawberry Fields over the weekend. John Lennon was that important to us. I feel it's my duty whenever I come home to NY that I pay my respects to the man I admired so much.
I love seeing the photo of the guitar... I love to just look at it and meditate on musical memories and the man who stirred our hearts with a profound message of peace...so ironically killed by a gun.
Carole and I have been emailing back and forth about John Lennon, New York, Neil Young, and at her request, here is the link to my personal tribute to John Lennon. I hope you enjoy it!
In Memory of John Lennon
Craig, I hope you have a wonderful time. I wish the weather was nicer for your visit but enjoy it all! And thanks for the link, you had a wonderful tribute as well.
Mara, It is ironic. For a man who wanted nothing but peace and for everyone to just get along. He is missed but I hope many of us have learned some important values.
Thank you so much for posting. I appreciate the time you took to get the pics and share them with us.
Hey Carole...Thanks for the Memories. Many of us were upset with John and Ono for Breaking up the Band and all, Just being selfish I guess, Then John was Murdered. We all secretly hoped he would rejoin the band and the Beatles would be one again...it never happened and for sure once John was gone that was it. Yes we'll miss him and the Beatles, but we have our memories!.
Thanks for Sharing, MERRY CHRISTMAS CAROLE
Mel, I loved showing them--I know so many people love Central Park but can't get there often.
Fred, That is one of the very things I thought of when I came out of shock....that there could never be a reunion. I do believe in years to come they would have put aside any differences and had a concert tour again. Merry Christmas to you as well!
Carole, it doesn't matter how long it has been since that day but the sadness doen't quite go away over the loss. I miss John Lennon and the wonderful music he was yet to create. RIP
Liz, I do too. We can only imagine what beautiful songs would have been created but I will always love the music he left behind.
Carole...
Mel Botting put me on to this post! It was great, John was an inspitation to me!
The day we lost John it etched in my memory. It feels like Yesterday.... Every time I go to NYC, I stop by Strawberry Fields and the Imagine mozaic in the park. the world lost a great man that day. Thanks for reminding us of what John stood for.
Betina
Thanks for the tribute. John made this a much better world.
Carole, I just found your beautiful tribute to John! The photos are wonderful. Thank you! We were at a business meeting outside the warm, sunny San Diego area when John was shot. It stormed, hailed and then snowed for over two days. Such a sad, gloomy time that I will never forget. I loved the Beatles-my parents let me sleep overnight in front of the local movie theatre to purchase tickets to Hard Days Night when it premiered in our little town. They changes our lives and our world for the better!!
What a nice tribute and great photos. I was on the school bus headed for school when the news came over the radio.
I was in Argentina... people were glued to their televisions. The impact was literally felt round the world. So unfortunate and tragic.