Traveling by Train

 December 22, 1969

The declaration

Happy Christmas (War is over)

Happy Christmas to you all!

Here is wishing all of you a very Happy Christmas.    Thank you for sticking with me through my difficult year.     I hope to get the site back to the way I want it to be in 2020.    Best holiday wishes to all commenters, contributors, and lurkers of Meet the Beatles ... For Real. 

Train Ride for Peace

December 23, 1969

Happy Christmas from John and Yoko

A Christmas Concert

War is Over (If you want it)

For the past 9 Christmases I have been spreading John and Yoko's timeless message of "War is Over (If you Want it)."    I have shared that to spread peace, we need to start within ourselves and our own lives.      It isn't an easy thing to do.    It is easier to hold a grudge than to forgive that family member, co-worker or former friend that did us wrong than to forgive them.   I believe it is better not just for yourself but for society as a whole to forgive.       As most of you know, I am a teacher and the one thing I have seen more and more of in  the students that I teach is a lot of built up anger.    I am not sure why they are so angry, but I know it isn't healthy for a 10 year old to have so much anger in his heart -- but it is the same with all of us.    If we could be a little more forgiving and a little more loving towards everyone, we could make a major change in the world.

What did John Lennon himself have to say about this campaign?

When we stick posters around saying, “WAR IS OVER (If You Want It)”, what we’re trying to promote is an awareness in people of how much power they have, and not to rely on the government, or leaders, or teachers so much that they’re all passive or automatons. They have to have new hope. Everybody’s looking for goals and answers; the youth especially. What we’re trying to tell them is that “You are the goal. Nobody on earth can do it for you. Whatever it is you want, you must do it yourself.”

John Lennon, 1969

I actually really like that, because I feel like John is agreeing with me on this topic.   You have to be the one that starts and be the catalyst  for peace.  No one will do it for you.     

I hope all of you hold onto these words as we head into 2018.

War is over outtake

Photo by Iain Macmillan

This is an interesting outtake of the cover of the Happy X-mas (War is Over) single.   But it didn't make it because---well look at the little girl sitting on Yoko's lap.   I have seen that look in my students over the years---she is excited or upset about something and it is not a pretty look for an album cover.

I didn't realize that this photo shoot was by Iain Macmillan, the guy who shot the Abbey Road album cover.

War is over (if you want it) Happy Christmas from Sara 2016

As this Christmas comes to an end, I hope that all of you visitors of Meet the Beatles...for Real had a wonderful time and if you celebrate this holiday, I hope you were able to spend time with family and friends.  I also hope that Santa was able to sneak a little Beatle goody into your stocking this year.


Every year at Christmas, I think about War is Over (if you want it).   I have expressed on this blog that my feelings are that for there to be peace on earth, we need to start with ourselves and end the wars that are going on in our lives.

I started to think about what wars I have going on and I began to think about my online life.   Having a somewhat popular blog has given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing people both in real life and through emails and messages.   But I also have met some not so nice people.  

I want to publicly apologize to Dirk Bock for being so rude to him for the past 10 years.   He has said some things that have deeply hurt my feelings and just plain annoyed me, but my response to him online and what I have said to others about him  has not been kind.    I hope that Dirk can accept my apology and that we can go into 2017 with a new outlook.    I hope that he will being to post nicer comments and I my responses to him will nice as well.    We are both Beatles fan and we have a lot to share.   Neither one of us knows more than the other---we just know different things.    

How about you?   Have you been kind to everyone in your life both off and on line?    Something to think about as we begin this new year.

I wish each and every one of you a very happy Christmas.  

Peace and Love,

Sara S.

War is Over

War is over (if you want it) 2015 edition

 

 

When I look at all of the things John and Yoko did over the years, I honestly can say that I don't understand most of them.  But the one that I do understand and totally stand behind is War is Over (If you Want it).    Yoko must also think highly of this campaign as she has brought it, or some form of it, back many times over the years.  

For me, War is over (if you want it) is an opportunity for me to take time to think about changes I need to personally make in my life.   Who have I gone to "war" with this year?   Who do I need to make amends with?   Who do I need to show extra love or compassion towards.    Who needs to be forgiven?   I am not sure if that was John or Yoko's intentions or thoughts back when they started this in 1969, but it is what I do each and every year.    I am just one person and I alone cannot stop a war, but I can make changes within myself.     I hope this holiday season you take a little time to ask yourself similar questions.   Just think if everyone made a few minor changes and reached out in love to one another instead of hate, what a big difference that would make in the world.   I think John and Yoko would agree.

47 years ago

Love to Paris

I can't allow this weekend to go by without saying how deeply my heart goes out to the people of France.    I was fortunate to have gone to France in 2010 and I often talk about how I found many of the people to be rude and pushy.   I also found a lot of the people to be kind and friendly.    Which just showed me that people are people regardless of where you live.    Having said that--- I think all of us that read this blog hearts break to think that a group of 1,500 people went to a concert to have a night of fun listening to a band and forgetting about the worries of the day.    And 80-90 people did not leave that hall alive and the others had to survive unthinkable things during the attacks and their lives will never be the same.    

I know that a lot of Beatle fans in France read this blog and I want to tell you that I am praying for you and your country during this time.    I wish there was something I could physically do, but I am at a lose.    However, we are all a Beatles family and we are in this together.  

After John and Yoko were married they went to Paris on their Honeymoon.   And John drew this picture which he titled "the city in my heart" which I think is just  a beautiful title and it really hits home today, don't you think?

Of course I personally am a very peaceful person and I do not agree with fighting and war.   I hope for a day when the world will agree that "War is over if you want it."

Peace and Love my Friends around the world!

Sara (aka Starshyne)

Those who want it

War is Over (if you want it)

Of all of the things John and Yoko did together to promote peace, the War is Over (if you want it) one is my very favorite.   These simple words have really made me stop and think.    So once again I hope you all take a few moments out of your busy day to think about what "wars" you have in your life that you need to stop.    What can you do as an individual to make the world a little more peaceful?

I wish each and every one of you a very happy Christmas!    I am so blessed by this blog each and every day and I can't say thank you enough to everyone who is a regular reader.     Have a wonderful Christmas Day!  I hope Santa fills your stockings up with wonderful Beatles goodies!

Peace and Love
Sara S. (aka Starshyne)

War is Over

The Sunset Strip in 1970

Times Square in 1978

New York City in 1969

I hope that each and every one of you had a wonderful day and if you spent your day Celebrating Christmas, I hope that you were able to spend quality time with your family and friends.   I hope that you had meaningful conversations, laughed, reminisced and ate delicious food.   While all of the Beatles things we enjoy doing is great fun and a wonderful hobby, nothing is better than spending time with those you love.  

I was blessed to spend the day with my ailing Grandmother (who is 89 years old!) and parents.  I made a special scrapbook for my mom of all of our Beatles adventures over the past 20 years.   I am very fortunate that I have such a great mom who loves the Beatles!   She isn't geeky strange like I am over them (in that she doesn't know all of the trivia and such), but she still is a pretty big fan who still remembers in great detail seeing them on Ed Sullivan in 1964.   And if Ringo Starr is reading this blog, please know that my mom is one of your biggest fans.  She buys every single one of your albums and listens to them on a daily basis.  I think we listened to "I wanna be Santa Claus twice today!"  

All of you readers of "Meet the Beatles...for Real" are friends of mine (well with the exception of the one German fellow who is very rude to me).   I thank you for your friendship and willingness to share your photos and stories and just your support to me as I continue on this adventure.    I started this blog in 2009 to help me cope with the aftermath of divorce.   I thought it would be something to keep  me occupied.  I honestly thought maybe a few people would visit, but not too many.  I had no idea that as a result of this blog, I would communicate with so many Beatle fans from around the world!   My idea of bringing a Beatles fanzine into the 21st century has really gone farther than I had imagined.  So I thank you all for everything you do, even if you are someone who just reads and lurks.  I know you are out there, because I see the number of hits and the countries.

As I have mentioned time and time again, I love the idea of "War is over (if you want it)."   I think it is a message that I personally need to hear right now more than ever before.   I want 2013 to be a year that I commit to spreading peace to others.   I want to stop the silly arguing that happens too much and be more peaceful and loving towards those online and in my day to day life.  Who is with me?

Protesters or fans?

War is over

I wish my copy of this photo wasn't so blurry. This is an amazing photo!

So this is Christmas and what have you done?

I want to take this time to wish each and every one of you who are regular readers of the "Meet the Beatles .... for real!" blog a very Happy Christmas. I honestly am so blessed to have so many wonderful people who contribute and participate in this blog. And even those of you who are just lurkers (yes I know you are out there), I appreciate you taking the time to check out the blog when you have a chance. I hope all of you have found some happiness from the Beatles photos I have posted over the past year. I will always be amazed by the stories people have shared with me about how this blog has helped them get back into contact with a long, lost Beatle friend. When I started sharing my collection of fan taken Beatles photos, I never thought it would have such a nice impact on the Beatles online community.

To Miss Tammy: Thank you for your wonderful blog and for posting photos for me to take and post here. Your humor as well as your love for the Beatles is always puts a smile on my face.

To Lizzie: Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your personal stories of the boys with us. You have been such an wonderful addition to this project. I can't thank you enough.

To Gina: I really want to thank you for posting so many photos on ebay without watermarks and not minding that I post them here. Your collection of photos are a treasure, and I am glad you are happy to share them.

To the anonymous Apple Scruff: Thanks for posting comments that help us all set the records straight. So many rumors and stories have been told incorrectly over the years, that is really nice to have your help.

To Ken Wood: You have been such a great Beatles pal over the years. Keep up the great work on the photo dating! :)

To Bruno: Thank you for the pictures!

To Pablo: I am so glad you won and received the Paul book. It couldn't have gone to a nicer guy.

To Mark, talanca, a car and a room, Gary, winston..... thanks for all of the comments. I read them all!

And now a little thought before I sign off. John and Yoko had their famous "War is over (if you want it)" campaign. To me that means so much more than a war that is fought by soldiers, but the war that each of us has in ourselves. Make 2011 the year that you find peace in yourself and forgive someone that has wronged you. Reach out to the family member that you haven't spoken to for years because of an argument. For me personally that means that it is time for me to let go of the pain that happened in my life 3 years ago today. How can we ever expect to have peace on earth if we can't find it within ourselves? Just something to think about as we go into a new year. Happy Holidays to us all. Love always, Sara S. aka Starshyne