Someone's Trash My Treasures

I heard yesterday that Sir Paul was getting married for a third time. This one looks like it's a much better fit than his last disaster. It made me think of how much influence the Beatles have had on my life. I'd have to say plenty.

When they were first becoming popular and famous in America I had just been through one of the worst periods of my life. My mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1962, had treatments, was cancer free for about eighteen months, then had it come back like gangbusters! She died in September of 1964. She left my dad with four children to raise, ranging from seven to seventeen years old, as well as an older married sister.

Life was as bleak as it could get, then I heard the song "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" on the radio one day and it lifted me up and out of my sadness just a little. The hits kept coming and everytime I'd hear a new Beatle's song I felt better. I had never heard anyone sing like them before, or since for that matter. Whenever I hear a song on the radio, or play one of their many inspired albums I remember how they helped me to survive a really rotten time in my life. Their music lives on and it always will.

I've collected several Beatles' memorabilia over the years, so I'd like to share them now:

This lovely little glass domed music box plays the title song from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. It's a limited and numbered edition from 1993.

Various items from 1991: Books on the 60's and The Beatles, a signed guitar pin with John Lennon's face, the domed music box and a colorful bill holder.

A Blue Meanies stuffed doll, date unknown, George Harrison doll with toy yellow submarine from 1999, and Yellow Submarine lunch box from 1968.
Silver metal heart necklace with black & white photos of the Beatles, with black cord. possibly 20 years old.
The back of necklace with the signatures of the Beatles configured into the metal design. I've worn this many times over the years.
Ringo Starr figure with Blue Meanies Doll from "Yellow Submarine." 1999.
Paul McCartney doll with Captain Fred of "Yellow Submarine."
John Lennon figure with Jeremy (Nowhere Man) from "Yellow Submarine." 1999.
Close up of the bill holder. Date unknown.
Close up of the pin back plastic guitar with John Lennon's face and signatures of all four Beatle's from Leicester, England. Date unknown.

And now.....Paul:

And John: