My one worry was that, like four years ago, Yoko would be so surrounded by hordes of people anxious to get her autograph, shake her hand or talk to her that Jamaica wouldn't stand a chance. That's why, during a lunch with Yoko that day, I mentioned to her that my nieces would be at the reception that evening and that Jamaica was hoping to speak to her. It doesn't hurt to do a little "advance work", you know!
Yoko promised she'd say "hi" to Jamaica - and no doubt realizing how these events transpire, urged us to grab her by the arm at some point as she whizzed by! I have to say I was relieved to get permission from Yoko to interrupt the marathon meet-and-greet session, because anyone who knows me, knows that I am about as meek and mild-mannered as they come. I knew that my brother was hopeful that Jamaica and Kaitlin would take away a memory to last a lifetime - he felt the event would be historic for the girls.
THE MEETING
That evening, while we strolled around the exhibit waiting for Yoko's arrival. Jamaica asked me two or three times if she would be able to meet Yoko. Even Kaitlin started to get antsy, wondering when Yoko would arrive. It may seem odd that meeting Yoko would be an iffy thing at a reception in her honor, but you really have to try to picture this tiny woman at the center of a whirlwind, with people crowded around her every moment.
The Cranbrook people are understandably protective of her, and constant motion seems to be necessary. The minute Yoko stops, the crowd grows larger and pushes in closer. She could suffocate in there! It is an art show, so everyone's trying to be "cool"..but cool doesn't cut it when someone as famous as Yoko is in the room. There are hundreds of people wanting a piece of Yoko's allotted time. Unless you're willing to leap into the whirlwind and be assertive, Yoko has no way of seeing anyone but those who are crowded around her. That's why it was such a relief that she had given us permission to grab her..and as it turned out, Melba Sharp was the one who made the move as the mob came racing towards our little family group.
Yoko immediately stopped and we introduced Jamaica and Kaitlin. While Yoko shook their hands and chatted a bit, Jon Hendricks (Yoko's art curator) reached in his pocket, pulled out a Yoko postcard and said, "You were going to sign this for Marsha's niece." Yoko had obviously come prepared not just to say "hello", but to sign an autograph. It was a sweet gesture that meant a great deal to a 12-year-old, her Dad and aunt.
The reception was the final public event of Yoko's two-day visit. For 48 hectic hours, Yoko had given several interviews to newspapers, radio stations, tv stations and at least one fanzine..handled a group of students in a question-and-answer session, walked through her exhibit for a PBS special, taken time to have lunch with Tom, Melba and me, spent about 90-minutes at the artist's reception - and she did it all with an easy-going grace and charm that never fails to impress Tom and me.