40 years ago Yours Truly was studying for some high school class at nighttime in my cold bedroom at my desk under a blanket (my father was not into the blasting of heat in the house) when the classical music station DJ cut in to announce that John Lennon had just been murdered. It changed my music-following trajectory to veer onto a path I had not visited too many times before: Lennon's solo work.

So why have I chosen an image of Patti Smith on this anniversary date?

This image was made on 12/1/2017 at the 37th Lennon Tribute Show produced by Theatre Within. This year Theatre Within would have had their 40th annual tribute at Beacon Theatre. Patti Smith read her words and John's words that night in 2017 and, after she finished a piece, she crumpled each sheet of paper and dropped it to her feet. I was seated in the front row of this performance as a proud and ongoing sponsor of this tribute that benefits children and adults with cancer – to learn the craft of songwriting and other creative expression.

On the 20th anniversary of John's passing I was speaking to my friend Harry Scull in the morning and said I wanted to fly to NYC to document and participate in the tribute to John at Strawberry Fields: Harry encouraged me to do this, and off I flew.

It's a sad anniversary and, as Yoko has asked fans, I prefer to honor his birth anniversary, 10/9.

That 20th anniversary was beautiful and the night was crisp and the crowd was gentle and sang all night long: the unspoken highlight - and ending - was the group-sing of Imagine.

Those pieces of paper that Patti dropped at her feet? I have them in my studio, still-crumpled, poetical artifacts.

What would John say about these times: we can wonder/wander. But I think he would be insistent about universal forgiveness, the ongoing message of Peace, and masks.

Love.