The Quiet Beatle and his very vocal fans...

[JudithKristen]

Ever since I saw George's handsome face on Walter Cronkite's Evening News report on December 10th, 1963... I was in love.

In the almost 47 years since that night, I saw him and and 3 friends in concert 9 times... watched A Hard Day's Night 57 times in theater's in July and August of '64 alone... and I was even blessed enough (thanks to youthful tenacity) to meet the man himself on their Summer of '64 tour.

As I grew and George grew I realized what a good man he was (rock star short-comings aside) ... this was a kind and gentle man who loved life, who understood human frailties, appreciated all music and art, and embraced this life, and... had no fear of the one to follow it.

He is missed by millions... but he lives on in the beautiful legacy of his music... and in the heart-prints he left on all of our souls.


~Judith Kristen

[valerieinthegallery]

Oh, Judith...how I envy you!

[beatlebangs1964]

December 10, 1963 was a Tuesday.

As I grew and George grew I realized what a good man he was (rock star short-comings aside) ... this was a kind and gentle man who loved life, who understood human frailties, appreciated all music and art, and embraced this life, and... had no fear of the one to follow it.

He is missed by millions... but he lives on in the beautiful legacy of his music... and in the heart-prints he left on all of our souls.

Well said, Judith. George Harrison has really made a positive impact on countless lives.

[beatlebangs1964]

Judith, George had a gift for reaching people with autism.

George, one last thing. You have many fans with autism. One young fan used your words to communicate. You wanted to tell us, George and I'm glad you did.

George, we love and thank you.

George & Asperger's

George has brought immeasurable joy into the lives of countless people. On the Random George Thoughts thread, I related a personal account of how George and his music reached a child who had Asperger's Syndrome (AS) which is on the high end of the autism spectrum. This child absolutely LOVED George and let George "talk" for her and often used the Beatles to get an idea or an agenda across. When she felt "overwhelmed," the first thing she'd do is play some George. She absolutely loved George. For her, all long and winding roads lead to the Beatles and she can always come up with a relevant Beatle or George quote. It just goes to show you how deeply moving George's words really are. This young George fan was rather a distinction even among Beatles fans. . She was quite the Beatles expert. It still warms my heart to think of how George's words, music and example took root in her heart.

What I am getting at is that George had and continues to have so much to offer...he has, I believe, made countless people appeciate, celebrate and recognize the spiritual component of their lives. His music has deeply moved me ever since I was a very young child.

George's gaze...I can't help but think of that child I once knew who was not prone to making eye contact, but when it came to George Harrison, she'd sit raptly looking at him. Whenever she watched a Beatle movie, her eyes were on George. I think George had a way of really reaching into the deeper, more profound part of our psyches...George did a lot to encourage us all to think for ourselves. The child who raptly watched George had AS. She was, as I said never comfortable about making eye contact, but boy, did she know about George! She could pick him out regardless of whether his back was turned or what clothes he wore or how he looked at the time. She loved George and used to draw George on any available scrap of paper. No doubt she grew up to be quite a George fan.

It warms one's heart that George was able to reach so many people. George was a first rate human being. I've said in many ways what I like about George and how George has touched so many lives. In Anthology, George said he hoped people would always have a place in their hearts for the Beatles. I think he can count on that. He can count on it up to 100% every time.

Do a search for "autism" and "autistic" on this forum and you will pull up a lot.

Here is one thread of many.


http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=37861&highlight=autism

[valerieinthegallery]

Judith, please tell us about the time you met George!

[JudithKristen]

Dear Valerie...

The day I met George is etched so heavily in my mind that I can still see his face in front of me without even closing my eyes sometimes. :)

He was always my favorite and I knew I had to meet him - not just a hurried glimpse... not a disk jockey who could get me to have a quick 15 second picture with him ... but a genuine moment.

On August 30th, 1964 I got that moment. NOT the way I expected it... (NOT even close) but I will tell you... no matter what... to me he will always be a dear, kind, compassionate man... who helped a "fan" out of a very bad situation.

For decades I have been telling this story along with my other tenacious attempts to meet him...this year, after realizing there are more 2nd and 3rd generation Beatles fans than 1st generation ones... I was lovingly nudged by family and friends to finally put it all down in print.

I'm an educator by profession as well as an author, but all of my other books were young adult and humane education based.

I can tell you, I never enjoyed writing ANYTHING as much as I did "A Date with a Beatle" ... it was reliving all over again.

I don't want to ruin the ending for you... and it took 4 pages to write it, so here ... on Beatleslinks, I couldn't do it justice.

All I can say is, he was a wonderful man, and HANDSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! and very, very sweet.

I surely picked the right Beatle to love.

:)


~Judith Kristen

[george<3]

I cannot believe I haven't seen this before!! Very nice to meet you, Judith, and I think I officially envy you!:laugh5: I'm itching to read your book.... now to get on down to the book store if I could....

[beatlebangs1964]

Well said, Judy. You met George on a Sunday.

What a wonderful story. Did you by chance read "Do You Want to Know a Secret" by Pat Kinzer Mancuso?

I love George stories. Of all the Beatles who was surrounded by love from the moment of his very conception; who had several siblings; who had a fan club president who wrote about him; who had prime hair (long, wavy hair) I'm glad it was George!

I also think George was the most interesting Beatle and a nonpareil guitarist and lyricist.

[JudithKristen]

From the time I laid eyes on him I knew I had to meet him. My tenacity and passion for my dream paid off... as I said before.... NOT in the way I had planned... but it happened the way it was suppose to.


I suppose.


:)

[JudithKristen]

Actually, I never read that book --- but I will now.

:)

[beatlebangs1964]

I'm ordering it and will review it.