John news from Winter 1978

I have always had these photos labeled as "December 1977" but now I wonder if they are January 1978

John News

By Jude

The Harrison Alliance

March 1978

    Jerri and myself spent Yoko's birthday, February 18, bearing our good wishes in person, and were obliged by our dear Mr. Lennon himself, who voluntarily stood to chat with us on his doorstep in the midst of a small snowstorm. It seems Mr. L by far enjoys our company most when we are at our best appearances, with our heads wrapped in scarves and pursuing the "wet look" in spite of it all.

     John was in great humor despite the weather, whimsical really, and looked terrific in a lovely fur jacket, white with black and tan splotches, complete with an Eskimo hood, which he wore up the whole time just to slay us. He graciously acknowledged our birthday wishes for Yoko and suggested, too, that she would be even more pleased if we delivered them directly, as she'd be along. Yoko and Sean's nanny were still a good ways down the street, likely having stopped to check out a store window, while Dad and Sean had gone on ahead. 

    Sean is once again a real angel, a joy watching him toddle about, and very responsive, giving us a big "hiiiiiiiii" when we said hello to him and proceeded to hold out for us to see a little paper Valentine heart he was holding. We were knocked out at how freely John let us indulge ourselves with the baby, as he usually is, for the most part, more protective and cautious with him. Anyway, it was a lot of fun seeing him and chatting with him. Not to mention, watch his chest swell as he mused over his little one. Yoko and the nanny followed after some time and seemed pleased to be able to thank us for our sentiments of the day. Again, we hoped you had a happy Yoko, and thanks especially to John for giving us so much time in such nasty weather.

     Julian was in town for very nearly all of January visiting his folks. While here, he took in the "Magic Show" at the Cort Theater with Yoko, and also with Dad this time, he took in a Central Park gig by a band called "Riffraff." We hear he and Dad put the mountains of snow in the park to good use, and also that he loves his little brother's company to no end. Julian also looks more like John than ever, right down to the wire rim specs he now sports. Presently, he attends Ruthlin School in North Wales, and along with some of his mates, has formed a band which plays only Beatles numbers.

     The Harrison Alliance has recently learned that John recently purchased 140 acres of property in upstate New York, and the amusing part, an undisclosed number of cows, with plans of establishing himself as a dairy farmer! This is apparently more than a rumor, as neighbors in the area have already been quoted as saying it seems a lovely idea and an effort of getting back to nature. Perhaps John himself recently elaborated by saying the family plans to use the farm as a summer place, so we are not safely assuming that top priority of this project is not his simply tackling all these innocent cows single-handedly. Somehow we suspected he really wasn't meaning to be up every morning at four a.m. to do all that milking himself. Then again, these lads of ours have always been apt to surprise us. So your guess is as good as ours. 

    Guess that's all for this time, except for some trivia. Take it from us, if you listen very carefully as they stroll back to the bus on Magical Mystery Tour, it may be very possible that John is singing. "There's no business like snow business", you figure it out, Lord we've tried.

 

Dakota Territory (1979)

Photo by Jennie Swenten 

 

Dakota Territory

By Jude

Harrison Alliance

October 1979

A little background for those of you who are not familiar with Jude & Jeri's stories.  They were two girls who were (and still are) best friends because of their love for John and Yoko. Long story short, they would regularly hang out at the Dakota, and John and Yoko knew them by name and would often chat with them.  Jeri had a son who was around Sean's age, and Yoko would allow Sean to get together for a playdate with Jeri's son every so often. They wrote a regular column in the Harrison Alliance fanzine in the late 1970s to fill fans in on what was happening in John's life called Dakota Territory (great name!).  This is one of those articles. 

    We've been seeing John and family quite regularly, Jeri and I, and it's been great to say the least. The day before Father's Day, we delivered our best wishes with a card, a hug, and a kiss, and John and Yoko eagerly showed us the two pins on his jacket lapel, which were her gift to him: a circular diamond pin and a little American flag pin.

     Also, he went rooting through his pockets to show us the gold cigarette case he'd gotten from her too, going on like a little kid, saying, "And see, see, I got this box too, and I can put me ciggies in it in here." It was show and tell time! 

    Visiting with the family at the time had been Yoko's mother, a very lovely and poised lady, and we met her then as they were all returning from an outing together. She was lovely. During the chattering, John was really cute. When he directed something to us regarding her, he would affectionately call her "Mommy." We had to laugh afterward over that because of the way he would do it, so little boyish, yet sincere.

     He was handsomely dressed in black slacks, beige jacket, shirt, and tie, his straw "Casablanca" hat, sandals, and no socks. We happened to have our cameras with us, and although we have very seldom asked him for pictures, we asked him this time. Well, knowing our policy of not often asking, he eagerly obliged with "Sure" and assured us we had to take some now and again to be able to tell what date it was. He was really cute and funny.

     He was very concerned about whether they would come out well or at all, because there is no sunlight in the driveway as it is enclosed. He kept moving around for a better spot, saying, "Do you think they'll come out?" and "I hope they come out okay." It was already after 7pm and really lacking of light in there. So all at once he said, "Do you want to go in there? We can take some by the fountain." And buzzing to unlock the gate,  he led us into the courtyard, telling Yoko and her mom to go ahead, and he'll meet them upstairs. 

    He bounced over to the fountain and posed with his newspapers, started mugging for our cameras. As it turned out, the light in the courtyard was barely enough without flash, either. It wasn't pitch dark, but very shadowy. So out photos were too dark for the lab to print correctly. A shame, as if they would have been gorgeous. 

    We saw them again the week afterward, however, and he obligingly gave us a "rain check". Yoko told us later that he was as disappointed as we were about those first ones not coming out, since he had hoped he could send some copies to Mimi.

     But this time our luck and the sunshine were with us. When with Yoko some days later, she actually anxiously asked to see these shots, and told us they were beautiful. We let her keep our original prints, and she said she knew John would be thrilled with how nice they are. We were happy to hear, too, that they would be occupying a special space on their kitchen bulletin board. 

    We had some sad news recently, too. One of John's cats had squeezed through a window, small opening, lost her footing on the outside ledge, and fell to her death in the courtyard. Naturally unhappy after Sean had left for an outing with Grandma, John and Yoko went out immediately and returned with two brand-new Persian kittens as a surprise for him. John anxiously brought us over the kennel box, holding it open for us to see and pet them. They were later named Sasha and Charo. The other remaining kitty is Misha. Sean was just thrilled with his new playmates.

     The following Saturday, having plans on Wednesday with Yoko, Jeri, her little guy Chris, myself, our friend, who is the nanny for the Lennons, and Sean, we had ourselves a really wonderful days outing. We spent some hours in the park's playground, hiking up and down the hills, riding the carousel, having a nice lunch out, took in the Muppet Movie, and wound up the day with a lovely horse and buggy ride back home through Central Park.

Many thanks to Mom and Dad for permission for Sean to join us. We all had a great time together. Aside from the Muppets, one of Shawn's big favorites of late is Yellow Submarine, which he likes to watch at home on Dad's video set. In fact, Sean's homemade Father's Day card to John consisted of none other than a drawing of his version of the famous sub and four faces. When asked if the faces belong to anyone in particular, Sean identified them as "Mommy, Daddy, Sean, and Ringo."

     John has recently gotten the go-ahead to install a jacuzzi in the apartment, and the construction is underway. John, Yoko, and Sean left New York for their summer Japan holiday on July 23 and are expected home shortly, perhaps by the time you are even reading this. Shortly beforehand, Ringo was in town and visited with the family at the apartment,

Message from Jude: 1980

I have been posting and reading a lot of what Jude and Jeri wrote in the Harrison Alliance magazines and really enjoying the little stories they had to share about seeing and talking to John and Yoko outside of the Dakota.   I have also been enjoying the "Everyday Lennon" page and facebook site ran by Jeri's daughter.   It is just getting started, but is going to be a wonderful page!   I thought it would be appropriate at this time  to post what Jude and Jeri had to say in the Harrison Alliance (and republished in other places) right after John's death.   I am also posting some photos from the Lennon vigil that was held December 14, 1980.    And that will be the end of this topic for 2012 and back to happier things.

December 29, 1980

Dear Friends of the Harrison Alliance:
Jude and Jeri here.  We sincerely wish to thank everyone for their words of concern to us in the aftermath of John's tragic death and in particular, ask that you all continue in your prayers for the family and for us all who hold him dear.

Please remember that we have lost only a physical form that was John to our eyes and ears.  In reality, the spirit which is and always will be John will go on as long as we do.

To assess the personal impact of John's being and death on our lives is a sheer impossibility because the deepest things always remain locked in one's heart and words, as best, are inadequate.  Jeri and I grieve not for John (for he is in a better place than us all), but for those who didn't know him as we did, because theirs is the greater lose.  And we pray for those who knew him better than we.

We have, because of our Christian belief and because John openly professed to be what in his interpretation was a Christian, not an idea, but a firm conviction that he is in Heaven.  Most all beliefs preach there is an after-life which rewards the good and we feel everyone who was touched by John Lennon shares this conviction with us, respectively in his/her belief.  He was a good man, a lover and seeker of the good and truth in all things and his spirit here on earth, during his time with us, mirrored the teachings of the Lord.  John died suddenly, with virtually no suffering, before he had a gray hair on his head, and most importantly, at what seems to have been the happiest time of his life.  God surely must have loved him to cal him home so soon and at such a time of positiveness.  We sincerely feel that if the Lord was to put in our hands the choice of having John come back in his physical form for another 30-odd years or so, or to be left as is, entrusting with Him for eternity, in our truest, best interest for John it is obvious which we would choose.  John deserves only to be in the best of places.  We hope you who have loved him with us share that feeling.  We can wish that he hadn't been taken from us, yet he wouldn't want us to spend the rest of our lives sorrowfully wishing him back.  What a better, more fitting place for John to be "starting over."

Jeri and I were with John and Yoko on Saturday evening, December 6.  He was, as ever, jolly, jubilant John - tender, affectionate, playful.   His happiness was abounding; on Monday night he died a happy man - a privilege few have had or will have.  We must all be thankful for that much.

The Lord provides that some good comes out of everything.  On Sunday the 14th Jeri and I were able to stand inside the Dakota during the silent vigil, on the inside the vestibule steps were John had fallen.  We prayed together and felt him to be very near to us.  As Yoko told the press, you could feel him smiling down on all of us everywhere, being very brave for him and being very peaceful.  Shot down for his cause, John was a solider of love.  Carry on loving him because your love will still reach him; carry on loving the music because along with his friends, that is the gift he left us.  And most importantly for John, just carry on.  God willing, we will all see him again one day.  He told us this year "We are all part of the sky, moreso than of the ground."  Believe it.

Springtime with the Lennons

This is another update from the Harrison Alliance written by Jude.   It was in the June 1979 issue and had a few little cute stories of when Jude saw John that spring.   The photo I am posting does not go with the stories, but it seems to be  a slightly different frame from May 1976 than had been posted before.   Just a warning that I scanned it from an 8 x 10 photo, so it is going to be very large. 

Hi gang!  Hope all’s well.  We’ve been enjoying the return of the Spring AND the Lennons, seeing them nearly each weekend.  On March 21^st the family and our friend who doubles as Lennon Music’s Secretary/nanny to Sean, left for a 3 week vacation in Florida (John gets these cravings for Disney World…).  They were joined down there by Julian, who had flown down on holiday from school, stayed at a private house they’d rented, and did lots of swimming and sunning.  The arrived home again on the 12^th of April.

Before and since their holiday, as well as Dad giving us plenty of attention and vice versa, we’ve been lucky to be spending lots of playtime with Sean, with him keeping us equally amused.  Recently, with grown-up-like sincerity, he told us about a birthday party he’d missed out on because a playmate, the birthday girl, got sick.  According to Sean, he couldn’t go because “she had chickenpops!”  (Rolling his eyes, then shaking his head emphatically and adding), “but they didn’t eat the chickenpops, cause they’re no good for you.  They make you sick, jerkies!”  At that point he broke into giggles and leaned so far backwards he went right on him little behind!  Relating the story of Mom and Dad later, they cracked up and thought it was cute too.  John’s been pretty cute and whimsy himself lately.  Just yesterday (May 24^th) he and Sean spend a full half hour with me and a friend sitting outside on his front step while one of our hard-working doorman pals tried to get them a cab.  It was a cloudy day with rain threatening, so taxis were almost non-existent.  John, his disposition as sunny as ever, was not the least bit impatient and just sat back with Sean cuddled between his knees, entertaining us to no end with his whistling, joking and small-talk (which covered everything from his Auntie Mimi to Sesame Street!).  It was wonderful – we could’ve been in heaven!  Later, on their return, he brought Sean (this time sound asleep cradled in his arms) over to us to let us see how sweet he looked.  We chatted for a while, stroking the baby’s head, til John thought perhaps his arms were tiring and it was at best “time to go in and have our nap – together – with Bill Boggs.”  (Bill Boggs being the host o the news program “Mid-day live!” –John and his TV of course!) 

 We also saw and spoke to him later with Yoko, when they went out for some groceries on the way back.  Each time John initiated most of the chit chat!  He was just so warm and funny and what a joy watching him to tenderly snuggling and playing with Sean.  His happiness just radiates from him and he leaves you with such a nice happy feeling inside.  As always, Yoko was lovely.

Another cute one?  Having become big Robin Williams fans, THA pal Jeri and I also recently got a ribbing form John, who when he spied our rainbow suspenders, kidded us saying, “Ya look like Mork and Mindy!”  (He loves the show to and you bet that line slayed us!)  Well, one point for John, but we still lead!  I gave him a pair, explaining that now he could really be one of the gang and he was tickled pink, to put it mildly, and he went spare over them (He is thirty-eight going on five!)  Shazbot!  And welcome to second childhood.

We can tell you that the Lennons have  been somewhat into antique collecting lately-  a good investment project.  They’ve bought some furniture, and John just recently picked up an old fashioned shortwave radio.  Among recent non-antique purchases, John’s now the owner of a new Mercedes station wagon, few of which are to be sold in the U.S.  A real necessity, considering John almost always travels by limo service or taxi.  Oh well, maybe this will be his excuse to ditch his second hand Town and Country wagon, still being waked in the garage!  People you n ever know.  Take care and stay happy.

Beyond all Time and Space

I have another story from Jude about meeting John, Yoko and Sean outside of the Dakota.  I love reading about fans meeting John during the "house-husband" years because historically there isn't a whole lot of documentation that is reliable on what he was doing during the late 1970's.   So these fan stories show a glimpse of John being happy as a father and just being a regular guy and not a mega-rock star.    I am also excited because I located the photos that go with this story in my files.   I love love love it when I can match a photo with an exact date!    Yippie!    This story was found in the March/April 1976 issue of the Harrison Alliance.

Beyond all time and space

By Jude

It was Saturday afternoon, first day of spring, 20^th of March (1976) and weather-wise, one of the nicer Saturdays we’d had in a long time.  So, completely on the spur of the moment, with hardly a thought to John and Yoko’s anniversary, or seeing them, I packed a sandwich, a book and an instamatic, and headed into the city with the notion of sitting myself on the park bench across from the Dakota, and getting a few snapshots of the sunshine complimenting the building.

I was sitting there perhaps not even 15 minutes, when out of the blue I spotted John and Yoko with Sean, stepping onto the opposite curb, and closed to traffic for the Saturday bikers, and fortunately there were no cars to dodge.  As I got over to them, Yoko had just caught up to John from behind him and was next to me, so I touched her arm and said, “Yoko, how are you?” to which she smiled back with a shy, “fine.”

Me:  “How’s everything?  You look great.  How’s the baby?”   Nothing like getting it all in at once, and it had John turn in front of us to what the conversation was.

Yoko:  “Oh, fine, thank you.”

Me (to John), “Um, could I just ask you one question? “  One huh?  Forget it.

John:  (playfully) “Wot?”

Me:  “Would you think I was obnoxious if I asked to take a picture?”  He made a wanting to oblige face, but glanced at the benches full of sun-lovers.  

John:  “mmm…everyone’ll start looking, y’see? “  And so in turn I went,   “Ah, just one?” and with a sweet reassuring look and tone of voice, he said, “We’ll be back in 10 minutes.  We’re just walking about the park.”

Me:  “Oh, um, would you mind if I walked along with you for a bit then?”  And with that, as we’d already taken a few steps, he gave me a friendly, “No!”

We’d walked just a few steps further when I thought I noticed somebody familiar just over my shoulder and by pure coincidence it happened to be Marina Sharpe, and her friend Peggy, who’d also spotted him per chance and caught up.  John was a bit ahead of me now, as I stopped to say, 

“Marina?”  And so the three of us went on to walk a bit behind them and occasionally snap a picture.

His hair had been freshly cut.  Still tapered and even in the back.  The length somewhere between “late Gripweed” and “early Imagine,” from what I could tell with his cap on, and facially he looked much like the back of that lp too.  His build was perfect, in fact form the last time’s seeing him (night of George’s last gig) I might’ve expected him to be thinner, but he looked strappingly healthy to say the least!  He was wearing a bright blue pre-washed denim jacket and jeans, brown books and a beige cap.  Yoko looked nice too in jeans, black turtleneck, her hair tied back and in a ski-cap.  And there was Sean, tucked into a green-cord baby pack that John had on, his nose and eyes peeking out from under a little brimmed multi-colored crocheted hat.

They stopped a few times.  Once so John could adjust Sean’s foot, catching him on the back and another as Yoko took off Sean’s hat, fixed I and put it back on with a little pat to his bottom.  It stuck me how contented he looked, taking Dad out for a spin.  Few people passing even noticed them, although believing they’d seen those faces before, a couple glanced back.  We followed behind for quite a ways, allowing for a bit more space between, all the while him chomping away on his gum and turning back once in a while to see if we were still there.  They turned down the little wooded path near the lake and it was there we stopped to head back to wait at the apartment. 

At the front of the building, and not waiting too long really, Peggy spotted them about to cross over at the corner.  Just as they approached us, in unison we said, “Happy anniversary!” to which Yoko smiled and gave John a little hug, and he in reply gave a cute emphasized, “thank you!” and stepped up about a foot from us with a whimsical expression, awaiting the next bit of dialogue.  I sort of smiled, towing the group yet, I guess, and eyed him and said, “I’m sorry we had to do that before, but after 12 years it’s become a bad habit.”  He laughed, putting his hands in his pockets and teasingly said, “Well, did you get your pictures?”   “mmm…a lot from behind”  (hoping it didn’t come off sound OF your behind.), to which he stepped back, and caught Yoko, saying playfully, “Well, come on and GET some then!  Cuma-Cuma-common!”   as if to say what are you waiting for.

We took a few and I said, “Can I take one with you?”  So he let me get up alongside of him and then as Marina and Peggy were getting the shot, says to Peggy, “Did you send a letter?” recognizing her from the photo she’d enclosed.

Peggy”  “Oh, you got it?”

John:  You see, the secret is that you got to send a self-addressed envelope and a stamp if you want a reply.”  (chomp chomp)and Peggy said that she had.

As Marina was trying to get the shot with one camera, and hold onto the other, he eyed the zodiac patch on her jacket and teasingly said, “come on Aquarius…”  Peggy’s turn now, saying to me, “come on let me get one”  John said to me, “Key, let her take one now…”  so I stepped back behind him to visit Sean.

It was getting breezy there in the shade, and Yoko was pulling her sleeves down over her hands a bit and crossing her arms, and it was getting really chilly, so Marina said, “come on you two, they’re getting cold…” and to that John quipped, “I’m getting hungry!”  As we came around to the front of them, Peggy turned back and said, “Could I just take one of the baby?”  And John started unsurely with, “Ahh…I don’t…” to which Yoko, smiling apologetically, added, “He might be frightened.” And we nodded then, looked as though to let them know we understood.  A few people were passing us by now, John looked up and I heard him say, “oops…we getting a crowd (then softly) we’re gonna go in now.”  With that we thanked them and watched them walk to the gate.  A little girl was standing alongside, almost looking a bit lost, and John turned back to look at her, seemingly wondering if she was or not.  Catching his eye on her, she gave him this big cute bashful face and he continued on his way.

We retreated to the park again to slip out a bit and engrave it all on our brains.  They were just so nice to us, didn’t seem terribly eager to be going (which really knocked me out) and were just so kind and giving of their time.  One hell of a time to be there at the right time.  So thank you John, “and how you’ve been on my mind.”

Everyday Lennon

The John Lennon fan known as Jude wrote for the Harrison Alliance about John in every issue.   Her along with her friend, Jeri were two girls who spent a lot of time waiting for John and Yoko outside of the Dakota in the 1970's and in 1980.    They became friendly with the couple and had many stories of meeting John.     These two fans seemed to have gotten out of Beatle fan circles after John's death.  And if you know anything about these two (if you don't -  google them), it is really understandable.  And just a side note:  That Chapter 24 movie is now showing on cable and I am refusing to watch it for many reasons, but most of all because I do not like that  they used Jude's name for the Lindsey Lohan character.   I am  not sure how they try to portray her, but the whole film just makes me sick and I do not like that they put a character based on Jude into the film.   

Anyhow.....Jude has returned on facebook through her daughter putting together a group page called "Everyday Lennon"   She  promises to share stories about Jude's friendship with John Lennon from 1977-1980.   Already there is a very  nice photo of John that Jude took as well as some photos of people around the Dakota building during that time.  

In the meantime, I am happy to share one of the article that Jude wrote in the March 1978 issue of The Harrison Alliance.   The photos I included were photos that were taken at a birthday party for Yoko later in the week as the story featured below.  

Recently a counterpart, Jeri Moll, and myself spent Yoko’s birthday (Feb 18 1978) bearing our good wishes in person and were obliged by our dear Mr. Lennon himself who voluntarily stood to chat with us on his doorstep in the midst of a small snowstorm!  It seems Mr. L. by far enjoys our company most when we are of our best appearances with our heads wrapped in scarves and pursuing the “wet look” in spite of it all.  John was in great humor despite the weather, whimsical really, and looking terrific in a lovely fur jacket (white with black and tan splotches) complete with eskimo hood, which he wore up the whole time just to slay us!  He graciously acknowledged our birthday wishes to Yoko and suggested too that she be even more pleased if we should deliver them directly, as she’d be along.  (Yoko and Sean’s nanny were still a good ways down the street, likely having stopped to check out a store window or whatever, while dad and Sean had gone on ahead.)    Sean is once again a real angel – a joy watching him toddle about, and very responsive, give us a big “Hiiiii” when we said hello to him, and proceeded to hold out for us to see, a little paper valentine heart he was holding.  We were knocked out at how freely John let us indulge ourselves with the baby as he’s usually for the most part more protective and cautious with him, not to mention watch his chest swell as he mused over his little one.  Yoko and the nanny followed after sometime and seemed pleased to be able to thank us for our sentiments of the day.  Again, we hope you had a happy, Yoko!  And thanks especially to John for giving us so much time in such nasty weather!

Julian was in town for nearly all of January, visiting the folks.  While here he took in “The Magic Show” at the Cort Theater with Yoko and also, with Dad this time, took in a Central Park gig by a band called “Riff-Raff.”  We hear he and Dad put the mountains of snow in the park to good use and also that he loves his lil brother’s company to no end!  Julian’s also looking more like John than ever, right down the wire rimmed specs he now sports! Presently he attends Ruthlin School in N. Wales and along with some of his mates had formed a band which plays only Beatles numbers!

We have recently learned that John has purchased 140 acres of property in upstate New York and “an undisclosed number of cows” with plans of establishing himself a dairy farm! This is apparently more than rumor, as neighbors in the area have already been quoted as saying it seems a lovely idea and an effort of getting back to nature, perhaps.   John himself recently elaborated by saying the family plans to use the farm as a summer place, so we are now safely assuming that top priority of this project is Not his simply tacking all these innocent cows single-handedly.  Then again these lads of ours have always been apt to surprise us, so your guess is as good as ours!