It was 40 years ago tonight.  I remember it well.  They call them "flashbulb memories" - when we remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we heard about dramatic events. 

40 years ago tonight, December 8th, 1980, I was 15 years old and working on a grade 10 algebra assignment at the kitchen table.   My dad was about 20 feet away in his favourite chair watching Monday Night Football.   

Howard Cosell broke the news on TV.  My dad relayed the news to me.  John Lennon had been shot and killed. 

It knocked the wind out of me.  I got choked up.  I grew up listening to The Beatles.  My sisters had the 45s and my brother had the albums.  Lennon's music, his lyrics, impacted me. 

You know, I thought about that night one warm, summer evening at Mosaic Stadium in Regina back in 2013.  44,000 of us were there to see Paul McCartney.  I couldn't help but wonder if Lennon would still be performing if he were alive.  I thought, maybe he and his long-time partner, Paul could be together again.   

Can you imagine?