Wednesday, August 18, 2010

John Lennon's Letter Finally Arrives... 34 Years Later

Imagine you received a  letter from a very famous celebrity, and he scribbled his personal telephone number on the letter, but you can’t call him. This is exactly what happened to musician Steve Tilston whose letter arrived 34 years late — and the sender had been dead a very long time.

The year was 1971 and Tilston was just 21. John Lennon read an interview that Tilston had done with a magazine called ZigZag. In that interview the budding British folk singer expressed his apprehension that success and wealth would get to him and ruin his songwriting ability. It caught the fancy of the Beatles superstar and he wrote to the aspiring singer, reassuring him that money and fame would not change who he was. The letter was signed by both John and his wife Yoko Ono.

Lennon sent the hand written letter to Tilston, and the reporter who interviewed him at the magazine’s office, however, the letter never reached him, at least, not until 2005, 34 years letter. Tilston came to know about the letter when he was contacted by an American collector who asked him to verify the authenticity of the letter, which was then worth $11,000 dollars.

Expressing his emotion, Tilston said, “I know it’s silly but I wanted to ring him up across the ages.” He felt sad that instead of forwarding this letter to him someone decided to sell it; nonetheless, he took it in stride saying that such things happen. Twenty albums later with  a singing career of  over 40 years, Tilston can attest to John’s words:

"Being rich doesn't change your experiences in the way you think. The only difference, basically, is that you don't have to worry about money - food - roof etc. But all other experiences - emotions - relationships - are the same as anybodies.
"I know, I have been rich and poor and so has Yoko, (rich - poor - rich). So, whadya think of that. Love John and Yoko."

 Great words from a great man, who took the time to send a hand written letter to a young, struggling singer. Great people don't change;  small people change, and often not in a good way, like the person who sold John’s letter rather than give it to it's rightful owner.....He might have made that call.

56 comments:

  1. So touching... Its really a nice letter and so sweet.

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  2. Anonymous9:45:00 PM

    I agree with John/Yoko...whether you are rich/poor are inbetween...it's what inside the heart that makes the person.

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  3. Anonymous9:50:00 PM

    Hi cutie...how's it going??
    Is Nana keeping your feet to the fire?[giggles]
    Hope you got good news today.
    How is Briend and have you got your jiggle dance yet?

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  4. Hi PIC .How was the first day of school?

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  5. Anonymous9:54:00 PM

    Hi cutie

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  6. The good news is that BRian's cell count has not changed since the last test. It seems, for the moment, to have stabilized.

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  7. Anonymous9:55:00 PM

    School went real well and they didn't stay all day just unit 12:oo and they will have a full day tomorrow.

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  8. So now we can wait a little bit longer before we have to do something about it. We are going to do the peppers devotedly for a month and then ask for another test.

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  9. How did you and Gilly handle it?

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  10. Anonymous9:57:00 PM

    Oh happy day...I am so happy to hear that...just wonderful.

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  11. Anonymous10:00:00 PM

    Gilly was a big boy and took it in stride, but we will see when they stay all day.
    Jill's kindergarden teacher is now teaching 1st grade and asked if we wanted Jill in her class.

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  12. I agree Lyz and I think if the musician had received the letter when it was first sent, he would have made that phone-call and thanked John personally and who knows, made a friend.

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  13. Anonymous10:01:00 PM

    Check Walmart to see if they have peppers...

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  14. Did you think it was a good idea to put Jill in her class?

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  15. Hey, what a good idea. I never thought to check Walmart. Will do.

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  16. Anonymous10:06:00 PM

    Sha has a very nice teacher,she/NAN and I went to school together, Nan was a couple of grades ahead of us...I always wondered what happen to her.

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  17. Anonymous10:10:00 PM

    No we didn't want Jill in her class, Gil was really nice about it , he told her thanks but no thanks.
    He later told me he didn't want to be bother with her wanting to skip Jill, he says Jill is not mature enough to be in 2nd grade just because she can read.

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  18. Small world, eh? I often wonder what happened to Rog Brubacher. We went to highschool together and lived next door to each other and I had a massive crush on him. I still have the odd dream about him. You never forget your first love.He moved to the US to become a writer for a magazine.

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  19. I agree with Gil. Bright children get pushed ahead and I don't believe it helps their development.In fact it can stall their natural progress.

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  20. Anonymous10:19:00 PM

    I just sent you an E-MAIL.

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  21. Anonymous10:23:00 PM

    Have you tried to find rog on facebook?
    I think I will see if I can find mine the last I heard he was in Arizona somewhere...I bet mine is fat and bald.Haha

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  22. Anonymous10:28:00 PM

    We just want them to be happy kids , as they say you can travel to far away places even into the universe...I found out that was true by following your lead.

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  23. I found Rog on 'Classmates'.I was too shy to get in touch with him.

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  24. They all get bald and get pot bellies. Carl Schmidt was the handsomest guy I had ever seen. We were in grade nine together. I could not speak in his presence.Gorgeous, gorgeous.Oddly, both of his parents were quite ugly.
    Anyway,twenty years after highschool a very potbellied bald guy stopped me in the street and said,"you don't know me do you?"
    I said no and I looked around for a cop. There is never one around when you need one.
    He said,"I'm Carl Schmidt, remember, from highschool?"
    Well 'holy crap'I didn't believe it and every girl in school wanted to marry him.He told me I hadn't changed a bit and honestly I did not know how to respond.

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  25. Anonymous10:40:00 PM

    E-MAIL coming in...It's not going to be a problem with her...I'm glad the parents takes an interest in the school.
    The teacher know better than to take it our on the kids, if they do out the door they go.

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  26. Anonymous10:44:00 PM

    I wished I was there to see the look on your face. HA !!
    Maybe that's what happen to his parents.[giggles]
    Don't be shy...Rog can't see you, say hi I bet he had a crushed on you also. Guys always like the girl next door...in my case it was the girl across the street.

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  27. Anonymous10:52:00 PM

    NAN has the song Stand By Me, I love it and I bet Brian shed a tear when you showed it to him.

    Michelle needs to shut her pie-hole, I watch the chip and she had a mean look on her face.
    You know to really look at her she's quite ugly.
    Her husband works in the public and people wantas to see especially the ladies.

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  28. Anonymous10:56:00 PM

    Sweetie...Both our men work in the public and I will say, they are not hard on the eyes...we will never say in public what they better not do.

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  29. I want to get in touch with Rog and with Dennis (the actor/undertaker)just to find out what he has been doing.

    But I really fell hard for Roger.My heart used to pound when he looked at me. He was not as handsome as Carl ( who did nothing for me sexually)but he sure had something. I used to watch him out the back window when he mowed his lawn or lifted his weights in his back yard. One night at a party we kissed a few times and it was as thrilling as I had dreamed.He never asked me out though.

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  30. He took my cousin Joan out when she visited from England. After two dates she did not go out with him again. She wouldn't say why.

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  31. Anonymous11:02:00 PM

    Obama wants to get rid of the tax cuts. Just got an email about the Bush tax cuts to be extended, even for the rich...hell the rich don't need any tax cut's..it the little man that needs help.

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  32. What is the harm in admiring Bam Bam's chest? He can't control what people look at or focus on.He shouldn't try. Americans like to do their thing. They don't like people trying to focus their attention on something else.That's a form of control.

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  33. Anonymous11:07:00 PM

    We can guess why, he didn't ask you out because the Major would blister his butt.
    Your/ mine problem was we was in love with love.

    We can think/talk about these things because we know we made the right coices in men.

    Nic Cage is on Dave.

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  34. Anonymous11:11:00 PM

    I guess you can say I'm a guy watcher I like to look...but I don't touch...a lot of women is that way. It don't mean you want to go to bed with them.

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  35. True, we just like to appreciate a nice body.Bam Bam has a nice body.

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  36. What did he see in Michelle aside from her intelligence?

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  37. Anonymous11:20:00 PM

    I think so ...but that don't mean we want to jump his bones.

    Didn't one of the River boys die outside of a club ? I think his name was Phoenix Rivers and he was there with his brother River and SeanPenn/Johnny Depp.
    I'm not sure about who he was with.

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  38. Anonymous11:26:00 PM

    BamBam was always down to earth I hear and she is a very pushy person , is she's not careful, she is going to be his downfall not the people.
    She's just to damn bossy.
    Watch her when they are out together and the ladies want to hug him, she turns up her nose and look down on them.

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  39. YEes she may hold him back. The first lady has to be popular with the people.

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  40. She should be polite and mostly quiet when she is with him.He is the politician and the star. When she is at a function by herself, making an appearance, that is her moment. She can say what she wants.

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  41. She comes between him and the people. They want ot get close to their president. Obama is more approachable than many of your presidents.

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  42. Anonymous11:36:00 PM

    He's out first black president and most of the ladies here is crazy about him ,but they don't like her ways.
    I was always told a good woman always stand behind her man to help hold him up.

    Sweetie...I just sent you an email ...it's something I forgot to tell you, it's just one sentence long. Have a good laugh.

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  43. So honey, what do you think about calling it a night?

    By the way Brian was very touched by the song. He loves John Lennon.
    I was upset last night about going to the cancer centre today. I was sure it would be bad news, since that is all we have had for a long time.So I listened to music for a while.

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  44. Anonymous11:41:00 PM

    I agree with you about him being the star, she shouldn't be worried he goes home with her.
    She was out the country on his birthday.

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  45. Anonymous11:45:00 PM

    I know you was scared...I heard it in your voice/writing and I could wait to hear...
    Sweetie I am so happy for you and all your family.
    I hope Walmart has peppers...I really think they are helping.
    I'm waiting on my seeds.

    Did you get the email, what you think?

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  46. I sent you one back

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  47. Anonymous11:46:00 PM

    I think I will call it a night .
    The girls has their clothes out they want to wear, I know nothing matches so I will just redo them.

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  48. It's amazing how we think in sync.
    It never ceases to blow me away.

    How is Dad?I hope he is not mad at me for something I said to him.

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  49. Anonymous11:50:00 PM

    So sweetie I will say good night.
    Pleasent dreams and may you rest well and snuggle with the Rock and think about the good things to come.

    GOODNITE...HUGS & KISSES ...PIC
    Kiss the ROCK.

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  50. Goodnight...Have a good sleep. It is going to be a great day tomorrow.I will try to think of some good articles.
    We will probably go to the lake tomorrow. We will be taking Dale and Barb to the boat on Sunday so You may not hear from me after Sunday when the boat sinks...It has been nice knowing you.LUV PIC.....Think of me when I am gone,

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  51. Anonymous11:55:00 PM

    Dad should be in Reno now he hadn't called ...
    You haven't said anything bad to him...he really likes you.
    He's going to Napa Valley and Carson City and to see Rhonda, Shirley is with him, he's going to get things set-up for her so she won't have to worry.


    Sweetie...you won't get rid of Dad that easy.

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  52. Anonymous11:57:00 PM

    Yes we do think a like and I bet when we talk we won't do nothing but giggles and answer each others' questions without saying a word.

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  53. Anonymous11:59:00 PM

    Oh hell no you can't leave me now, I haven't heard you talk yet...I bet you sound like the Queen.
    I have a drawl.

    Yeah, we do think alike.
    Nite.

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  54. The guy weighs over three hundred pounds. We're going down....Nite

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  55. Anonymous12:09:00 AM

    PS :
    If you haven't logged off I sent you another email about Dad, I will ask you tomorrow did you get it...NITE...PIC

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Through this ever open gate
None come too early
None too late
Thanks for dropping in ... the PICs