September 29, 2009
-
The Daily News
1 So…Lucy Vodden walks into a bar…
2 That would be Lucy, of Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds fame. The story behind the song goes that John Lennon’s son Julian came home one day and proffered this picture to the most creative Beatle, his dad. Lennon looked to his son and asked what the picture was:
4 The innocent Julian replied, “That’s Lucy in the sky…”
5 This incident inspired John to write the classic song, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, a story that was corroborated in recent years by the great George Martin, producer of the lads’ music for years.
6 Interestingly, I read about this recently in Martin’s fun book, All You Need is Ears.
7 Given the historical background of the picture, many people thought that the song was a reference to the hallucinogenic drug LSD, which the Beatles had been experimenting with at the time.
8 Lennon and the Boys stuck to the story about Julian’s friend for years, and to this minute, that story still stands.
9 Caught in the middle of all of this was Lucy Vodden, who went on to become a great friend of Lennon’s son Julian for the remainder of her life.
10 At the age of 46, Vodden passed silently yesterday from a long bout with lupus.
11 For the record, here are the real Lucy and her friend Julian:
12 Julian supported Lucy right up to the end.
13 Non-story, really, except that it brings real life into things.
14 For the DN, both real life AND this story are essentials, and unavoidable.
15 If you wish to make a donation to the Lupus Foundation of America, it might make it all worthwhile. Here is the link:
http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html
16 You can donate in honor of Lucy, and for anyone else you may know who has experienced the heartache and hope of this arbitrary illness.
17 Sad story.
18 Moving on: I spent the entire weekend correcting papers and planning classes. I’ve decided to put as much love and hard work into my classes as I ever did to all other things over the years. I’m realizing that teaching is an art, just as is anything else any of us do in this strange and mysterious life.
19 In a fun sort of way, we are all artists, every one.
20 Approaching our own daily lives as an artistic challenge takes an entire different line of thinking, but also an amusing one, if you get into the right frame of mine.
21 Is there anything more challenging in this world than to realize that we are all artists?
22 Too lofty?
23 Nah.
24 Nah because it introduces an entirely new and fresh way to examine the unexamined life.
25 Paint real life with your love.
26 It just takes a slight adjustment here or there, and can help others in the process.
27 Me old mate Carlos Santana said it best when he said, “Go out and make it better.”
28 Good and kindly words.
29 Are you kind?
30 Nice thoughts on a cooler day.
31 Hug someone who deserves it today, and start living.
32 See you tomorrow.
33 Peace.
~H~
