Iceland review - 2013, Page 46

44 ICELAND REVIEW
But walk in closer.
In choosing the Viðey location, Yoko Ono believed in the sym-
bolism of the north as a place of power and wisdom. Wisdom
could spread from here to all the earth. Add to this Iceland’s
lack of an army, plus the renewable energy that fuels the nation
instead of petroleum. Beneath the tower are buried thousands
of wishes collected every year from around the world. The
tower base is made of squares of white marble, engraved with
‘Imagine Peace’ in 24 languages.
Walking back we headed towards Viðey’s old town, where
signposts mark the distance from there to various world cities.
I was a long way from Rome (3,302 km/2,052 miles to be
exact) where I’d first developed the wanderlust that brought
me here today.
All around us were the most magnificent mountain vistas
imaginable, ringing the city of Reykjavík. In Iceland’s snow-
capped mountains I’d seen every shade of grey, blue, and vio-
let—sometimes against a dawn sky streaked with pink or shot
through with gold as the sun broke over their peaks. It was so
very easy here to imagine beauty and peace.
Later I also thought of the Imagine Peace Tower and my
Junior Prom. Bill and I both graduated high school, going on
to successful careers and very different lives. But the man I did
marry and still love 30 years later, made Yoko’s dedication on
the tower the most touching part of the journey for me. On
one of the marble squares is carved this simple message:
I dedicate this light tower to John Lennon.
my love for you is forever.
yoko ono.
October 9, 2007
The tower was a testament to an enduring love like that
between Yoko Ono and John Lennon: enough to make anyone
believe in love and to imagine peace. 
deb and her date Bill, ready
for their Junior Prom.
photo CouRteSy of the AuthoR