I Talked to Yoko Tonight!

[HMVNipper]

Hey everyone! I'm excited, I can't wait to tell you all this!

My husband and I had tickets to a screening of the documentary "Gimme Some Truth" (about the making of the "Imagine" album) and a discussion with Yoko and the film's director, Andrew Solt tonight. The New York Times is sponsoring a series of Critic's Choice programs this weekend, and we were fortunate enough to get tix to this one!

ANYWAY...it was lovely, we had GREAT seats (it was non-reserved, we ended up fourth row center!), and Yoko was just fascinating. They took questions from the audience and Jim (my hubby) asked her one about the art gallery scene nowadays as compared to when she was starting out...she answered him and he said, "Arigato, Ono-San" and she gave him this big smile and bowed her head to him...just lovely.

Anyway...after it was over, she hung around for a few minutes, can you believe it? Not a bodyguard in sight. People were giving her stuff to sign, but by the time I got up there she had to go, and she said, "If you send things to the Dakota, I will sign them and return them to you," and I looked right at her and said, "Okay, I can do that, I live in your neighborhood!" After I said that, she came BACK to the edge of the stage, said, "Oh, that's nice," and SHOOK MY HAND!!! Yes, yes, Yoko Ono shook my hand and smiled at me, and I thought she was just fabulous. She's really interesting -- oh, and she's a tiny little thing, she was dressed all in black, crisp pants, black shell, black blazer, high-heeled black trouser boots, but she's little and slim...oh, and very beautiful up close, you'd never guess she's nearly 69 years old!

Anyway, that's MY big news of the evening...I'm exhausted, gonna go to bed, but I wanted you to know that I didn't get to say anything profound, but that I DID get to exchange a few words with Yoko, and that is probably one of the coolest Beatle-things EVER to happen to me!!!

Good night!

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"O superb! O Manhattan, my own, my peerless! O strongest you in the hour of danger, in crisis! O truer than steel!" -- Walt Whitman

[Jerry]

Very cool! Congrats.

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Webmaster - BeatleLinks.net (http://www.beatlelinks.net)

[Rellevart]

Wow! Impressive! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/grin.gif

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I go back so far, I'm in front of me...

[mindgames]

Good thing it wasn't a concert.

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This week, the Beatles' greatest hits album, 1, is at number seventy-three on the US charts.

[Amalthea]

Indeed a gear experience, I remember I seen the adverstising in the NY Times... I wanted to go, but I disocovered it was in Jan http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

So glad someone made it, and so glad you see her!

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"Because there wasn't any reason left to keep it all inside"
- Paul McCartney, 1982

[C-Moon]

Very cool experience! She's an intelligent and artistic lady.

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Have you heard the word is Love? It's so fine, it's sunshine. It's the word LOVE."

[SoftTouch]

What an incredible Beatle-related experience for you! Thanks for sharing the story. I'm happy for you!
K.

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"Deep in the darkest night, I send out a prayer to you..." - George Harrison

[FiendishThingie]

WONDERFUL NEWS!!! I'm thrilled for you! Meeting Yoko is something I've always wanted to do. I did see her when John got his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but there were so many people, it would've been impossible to get near her.

Congrats Susan! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/clap1.gif I share in your excitement more than you'll probably ever know!!! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/bouncing1.gif

FT http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/wink3.gif

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"I hold you in my heart.
I know that you're a part of me."

[darkhorse]

Wow! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif I'm really glad that you could do this. A very impressive thing to tell, and to hear. Congrats on talking to the fifth Beatle. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/wink.gif I've always wanted to do that also.

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"And when life's through,
You are the light in death itself"
~ George Harrison, 1981

[Cecilia]

Woooo..that was great!! Congratulations!! http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/grin.gif

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"No sign of love behind the tears, cried for no one..."

[dorothy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Arial, Sans-Serif">Quote:</font><HR>Originally Posted By HMVNipper:
Hey everyone! I'm excited, I can't wait to tell you all this!

My husband and I had tickets to a screening of the documentary "Gimme Some Truth" (about the making of the "Imagine" album) and a discussion with Yoko and the film's director, Andrew Solt tonight. The New York Times is sponsoring a series of Critic's Choice programs this weekend, and we were fortunate enough to get tix to this one!

ANYWAY...it was lovely, we had GREAT seats (it was non-reserved, we ended up fourth row center!), and Yoko was just fascinating. They took questions from the audience and Jim (my hubby) asked her one about the art gallery scene nowadays as compared to when she was starting out...she answered him and he said, "Arigato, Ono-San" and she gave him this big smile and bowed her head to him...just lovely.

Anyway...after it was over, she hung around for a few minutes, can you believe it? Not a bodyguard in sight. People were giving her stuff to sign, but by the time I got up there she had to go, and she said, "If you send things to the Dakota, I will sign them and return them to you," and I looked right at her and said, "Okay, I can do that, I live in your neighborhood!" After I said that, she came BACK to the edge of the stage, said, "Oh, that's nice," and SHOOK MY HAND!!! Yes, yes, Yoko Ono shook my hand and smiled at me, and I thought she was just fabulous. She's really interesting -- oh, and she's a tiny little thing, she was dressed all in black, crisp pants, black shell, black blazer, high-heeled black trouser boots, but she's little and slim...oh, and very beautiful up close, you'd never guess she's nearly 69 years old!

Anyway, that's MY big news of the evening...I'm exhausted, gonna go to bed, but I wanted you to know that I didn't get to say anything profound, but that I DID get to exchange a few words with Yoko, and that is probably one of the coolest Beatle-things EVER to happen to me!!!

Good night!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

thanks you for your story.it most havebeen exciting.i would have love to meet her too.

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god did.nt make anything ugly!only people do.

[Cyn1963]

You live in NYC and you never met her before?? That's great! She is a very nice, sweet woman, I wanted to write to the person who started the topic in "Come Together" about "what does everyone think of Yoko" but I was angry...
I did have much "hatred" for her by reading all the bad stuff the media, "authors" wrote in the 70s before I met her. But then I did meet her, and spoke to her many times and she was very friendly and nice. Caring. She sent us down part of her birthday cake once at the Dakota!! But no, she can't sing!!! hahahaha.
Glad you had such a great time! I wish I knew about it!!! I only live about 20 mins from NYC!

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[bearkat77]

I'm happy for you, Susan. Glad you got to actually meet her.

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[Lynner]

Glad you got to meet her, Susan. I've seen her from a distance, but not close enough to say anything to her.

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[Lucy in the diamond sky]

This is great!
Congratulations!!! (I wish I was in your position...)

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When I'm good I'm very very good BUT when I'm bad I'm better :)

Sophie

[jtal909]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Arial, Sans-Serif">Quote:</font><HR>Originally Posted By mindgames:
Good thing it wasn't a concert.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/laugh1.gif

HV, very cool.I have softened my feelings toward her lately.


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"Why don't you say it in your famous James Mason impersonation?"

[Harbidge]

Can you sense the jealousy brewing in this topic? http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/wink.gif

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[Sally]

That is brilliant, the fact that she was lovely to you will really piss off the members who keep insisting that she is a horrid woman in other topics.

I would love to meet her, I am so jealous!!!

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[HMVNipper]

Yes, she really is nice...I had heard that from other people before, BTW, that she's nice. I have always thougth the "dragon lady" moniker is unfair, I admire her because she's a strong woman, and she must be for some of the crap fans have given her over the years.

She does do nice things for fans -- back in 1983 I went to the Dakota on December 8th and stood outside with a few other people (it was not the big mob scene it is now back then) freezing my butt off, and at one point in the evening she sent some of her assistants downstairs with gifts for everyone who was standing outside...I got an autographed "Happy Xmas - War Is Over" poster that night. Someone who was there then said that the year before (I wasn't there then) she sent people out with hot cocoa and coffee and tea for people because it was so cold. It's little things like that that are nice and win the hearts of fans.

For the record, I liked Yoko before. I REALLY like Yoko now. She's charming and funny and, I think, very kind to the fans, despite the people who have given her a bum rap. I'm sure it can be difficult for her to be the caretaker of the Lennon legacy, and for the most part I think she's done a very good job.

------------------
Rooftop Sessions - The Finest In Beatles-Related Fiction. www.rooftopsessions.com (http://www.rooftopsessions.com)

Enter the Rooftop Sessions Fiction Contest! Rules and Guidelines can be found on the main Rooftop Sessions Page!

"O superb! O Manhattan, my own, my peerless! O strongest you in the hour of danger, in crisis! O truer than steel!" -- Walt Whitman

[jtal909]

A lot of people resent the influence that she had on John in the later days of the Beatles. He wasn't (by choice) "just John" anymore. He was John and Yoko, and it played a part in the tension within the band.
It seems that she has become an elder statesperson of the arts and has mellowed and showed compassion. Not to be sarcastic or cynical but why not, as she has inherited one of the most important pieces of popular music history and millions of dollars.
Seeing her on the John tribute recently mellowed my own personal "original" feelings about her (I was a teenager when the Beatles broke up). Her poise and attitude finally touched me.
Now lets take care of Julian.

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"Why don't you say it in your famous James Mason impersonation?"

[old_moon_shining]

Thanks for sharing your story. I can't say that I care for her singing but that does not make her a bad person. Many of the things she did years ago the fans don't like. However, I don't think anyone can say that in later years she has acting with anything other than dignity.

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"I loved him from the first moment I met him and I shall miss his eyes, his laughter, his honesty and his wonderful guitar playing."

[beatlebangs1964]

Susan,

How wonderful! I'm sorry I haven't checked this page out sooner, but that is something really special.

I have always liked Yoko and I respected her for her strength and independence. It always upset me to hear people make mean spirited remarks about her. Many is the time I jumped to her defense (and still do) and told the offenders in question that since they didn't KNOW Yoko personally, they could not judge her. Although I don't know her personally, I have always had the deepest respect for her.

I remember a terrible night back in 1980 when Yoko had to be strong and face Sean with the bad news. I like what she told him. She told Sean that the man who did it was confused and I liked it when she told Sean that she did not know what would become of the man because "that's not up to me, that's up to a court."

I remember a terrible night in 1980 when I was worried about Yoko. The world, myself included http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/cry4.gif our http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/heart2.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/heart2.gif out over losing John, and I remember thinking, "What a horrible thing for Yoko and Sean! How is Yoko coping?" I sent her a telegram that night. I remember calling Western Union and sending the telegram.

Yoko always held her own and was not one to kowtow to anyone. She deserves support and respect and I like what Susan said.

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

[This Message Has Been Edited By beatlebangs1964 On February 08, 2002 06:19 PM]

[onosideboards]

I, too, am sorry I haven't seen this sooner.

I've met Yoko as well, and got her autograph. I was lucky enuf to get tickets to the North America opening of "Yes" at the Walker in Minneapolis. I guess she had been standing next to me for some time without me realizing it and then me and a friend went after her for autographs. I had her sign one of those little poem cards.

She was genuinely nice. I can't help but wonder about her health though. Not sure why, but she seems so frail. Anyway, she was very pleasant and I must admit that while I shook her hand, I couldn't help thinking that I was only once-removed from John at that point! (tee-hee)

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This is not here.

[Beatleicious]

Susan, that sounds like such an interesting experience. Congrats on meeting her. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif Enjoyed reading it!

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http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/angel3.gif
my site: http://kstarz.4mg.com/

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Yoko's still alive??????

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"Only you keep my eyes open wide. Yes it's true, I live for you..."

-George

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Seriously though, that's kinda neat, Nippy. Are you a Yoko fan?

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"Only you keep my eyes open wide. Yes it's true, I live for you..."

-George

[beatlegrl68]

COOL!! You are so lucky!!


http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/bouncing1.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/angel3.gif

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[Beatle79]

;cool; Sounds great.

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//0-0\\ //~~\\
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongebob Squarepants!

Great story Susan, thanks again for sharing it with us. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

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http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/king2.gif

[donnamariemoreno27]

[ QUOTE ]
HMVNipper Posted:
Hey everyone! I'm excited, I can't wait to tell you all this!&lt;P&gt;My husband and I had tickets to a screening of the documentary "Gimme Some Truth" (about the making of the "Imagine" album) and a discussion with Yoko and the film's director, Andrew Solt tonight. The New York Times is sponsoring a series of Critic's Choice programs this weekend, and we were fortunate enough to get tix to this one! &lt;P&gt;ANYWAY...it was lovely, we had GREAT seats (it was non-reserved, we ended up fourth row center!), and Yoko was just fascinating. They took questions from the audience and Jim (my hubby) asked her one about the art gallery scene nowadays as compared to when she was starting out...she answered him and he said, "Arigato, Ono-San" and she gave him this big smile and bowed her head to him...just lovely.&lt;BR&gt; &lt;BR&gt;Anyway...after it was over, she hung around for a few minutes, can you believe it? Not a bodyguard in sight. People were giving her stuff to sign, but by the time I got up there she had to go, and she said, "If you send things to the Dakota, I will sign them and return them to you," and I looked right at her and said, "Okay, I can do that, I live in your neighborhood!" After I said that, she came BACK to the edge of the stage, said, "Oh, that's nice," and SHOOK MY HAND!!! Yes, yes, Yoko Ono shook my hand and smiled at me, and I thought she was just fabulous. She's really interesting -- oh, and she's a tiny little thing, she was dressed all in black, crisp pants, black shell, black blazer, high-heeled black trouser boots, but she's little and slim...oh, and very beautiful up close, you'd never guess she's nearly 69 years old!&lt;BR&gt; &lt;BR&gt;Anyway, that's MY big news of the evening...I'm exhausted, gonna go to bed, but I wanted you to know that I didn't get to say anything profound, but that I DID get to exchange a few words with Yoko, and that is probably one of the coolest Beatle-things EVER to happen to me!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I was going thru some really old posts here and I came across this one (I wasn't a beatlelinker yet) and really enjoyed this one...I know it's been a couple of years since you met Yoko Susan..BTW that was awesome you meeting her! I was just wondering if you have seen OR talked to her since?

Donna~

[HMVNipper]

[ QUOTE ]
donnamariemoreno27 Posted:
I was going thru some really old posts here and I came across this one (I wasn't a beatlelinker yet) and really enjoyed this one...I know it's been a couple of years since you met Yoko Susan..BTW that was awesome you meeting her! I was just wondering if you have seen OR talked to her since?

Donna~

[/ QUOTE ]

Funny, I was so surprised to see this topic back up top tonight... http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I actually did see Yoko again, earlier this year (or end of last, can't recall the exact date) when she was honored for some arts thing by Cooper Union here in NYC. She did a free event at the Great Hall of Cooper Union in which she was interviewed by Peter Jennings (ABC News anchorman). I went with my friend Lena -- we sat in the front row, the crowd was pretty small.

I didn't get to talk to her that time, she left very quickly after it was over -- but it was pretty funny, she talked about her art and her "happenings" and actually got Peter Jennings to crawl inside a big black velvet bag with her! She also talked about how she met John, and some of the things they worked on together...

It's 3 AM, so I'm not coming up with exact specifics...but yes, I did see her again, and yes, she still looked really terrific, and yes, she was still very charming and funny. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[donnamariemoreno27]

Ah cool Susan...I kinda figured you might have seen her again at some function OR the neighborhood (as you told Yoko before)...yeah looking at her photos and on TV, yes she looks very good &amp; in good health http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I hope that you'll be able to TALK to her again sometime, hmm...how about Sean? Does he still live at the Dakota?

Donna~

[HMVNipper]

[ QUOTE ]
donnamariemoreno27 Posted:
Ah cool Susan...I kinda figured you might have seen her again at some function OR the neighborhood (as you told Yoko before)...yeah looking at her photos and on TV, yes she looks very good &amp; in good health http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I hope that you'll be able to TALK to her again sometime, hmm...how about Sean? Does he still live at the Dakota?

Donna~

[/ QUOTE ]

Sean actually lives downtown in the Village someplace, my friend lives not too far from him and has seen him around the area many times. I've never seen him.

I've actually NEVER seen Yoko just "in the neighborhood," actually...not for lack of trying, but I figure if I'm meant to just run into her, I will...God knows I'm down by the Dakota all the time just in my daily life.