Yesterday was the 35th anniversary of John Lennon’s death.  I did not hear or see anything about it on the radio, television, or twitter.  While my twittering is limited, no one brought it up.  And I see a bunch of crap I could do without.

I remember one comment I had for my dear mother, Tressie Johnson, when John Lennon died.  I told her I thought it seemed odd that no one went on about Colonel Sanders death, he died soon before John Lennon, like they were making over John Lennon.

Oh well.  I remember when John Lennon died.  I was in the 7th grade.  By this time I had discovered the “Rock of Chicago” WLS 890.  Imagine that, a great AM rock station.  I am so thankful I caught the end of that.  I stayed with the likes of Larry Lujack and Tommy Edwards through high school.  WLS is now a “talk radio” channel.  They played a great deal of Lennon’s 1980 release Double Fantasy before he got shot on December 8, 1980.

Two years ago my dear wife, Carrie, and I spent a good amount of time walking through Central Park in New York City.  I saw the Dakota Apartment building.  I looked at it.  I thought to myself…that is where John Lennon got shot.

When Lennon died in 1980, it seemed as though The Beatles were an afterthought to twelve year-old.  Almost like we knew they existed…but someone my age could only use one’s imagination to believe it.

In 2015, The Beatles seem closer to me than they did in 1980.  I have outlived John Lennon by nearly eight years.  He looked so old for forty, didn’t he?  I have seen Paul McCartney four times in the last twelve years.  The first time Carrie and I saw him in 2002, video footage of the Fab Four was playing larger than life on a few big screens.  I yelled to Carrie…”it all just became to real to me!”  I found out The Beatles were truly real as Paul sang “Can’t Buy Me Love”.

I suppose it is real for me also knowing The Moody Blues opened for The Beatles in 1965.

My group, The Moody Blues, are still at it.  Had The Beatles all lived, George Harrison died in 2001, I have no doubt they would have seized the day and the cash that goes into concerts these days.

I still have my Moody Blues.

I did some kicking of footballs this afternoon.  What was I supposed to do?  I was in sweatpants and windshirt and I was sweating in Indiana on December 9th.  That sounds like kicking weather to me.  I took it easy.  I did not go for a school record.  I equaled the school record in September and I thought I would never get the feeling in my leg back on a permanent basis.  I did not push myself this time.  I kicked from 25 yards out…kicked about 18 of them and hit them all.  Then I jogged around the field a few times.  It had been thirty years since I did that.  It felt good.  It was nice to be back home.  I didn’t think I would ever get back.  Thankful…that is what I am.

My dear Carrie and I are going to watch the original “Waltons” movie/show tonight.  “The Homecoming” was the debut of the Waltons on television.  The kids stayed the same on TV.  The momma and daddy and grandfather did not.  Carrie and I have yet to catch a Christmas show, save The Grinch, on TV this year.  Probably my football watching fault.

Take care…and….Speak the Rights.

Danny Johnson