♥ Home Run 2009 ♥ Note on soap magazine publication dates and content of articles/interviews regarding multiple soap stars: Many of the monthly or every other month (and sometimes quarterly) magazines back in the 1980's would be on the newsstands a long time before the date on the actual magazine. We've noticed, for instance, that DAYTIME TV magazine did an interview with Drake in late 1986 about his upcoming wedding, which was scheduled for December 1986, yet the interview didn't appear until the July 1987 issue several months later. Therefore, it might be a bit confusing to read about his "upcoming" wedding in an interview dated July 1987 when you happen to know he was married in December 1986. We've tried to date the articles to match the date on the magazine, regardless of when the events talked about took place. Hopefully it will make sense as you go along! We've also edited some of the articles/interviews to just include John's storyline, since this is a Drake/John website. We've left out comments and sections about other actors or storylines unless they're involved with John's storyline. This too should be very apparent and clear when we've done that so it makes sense and you don't have to skim through a long article to find the "John parts." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Editors' Choice SOAP OPERA DIGEST Salutes The Best In Daytime Black Magic, DAYS OF OUR LIVES It's a tricky proposition to fully praise John and Marlena's exit from DAYS, but at the same time, it's impossible to ignore the indelible mark they made over the past two decades as one of Salem's top super-duos. Headwriter Dena Higley and her writing staff had the unenviable task of penning a goodbye for the pair, whose legions of fans have come to expect a love story that overcomes all obstacles, even Satan. Deidre Hall (Marlena) and Drake Hogestyn (John) did everything they could to make the scenes – though few and sped up – as poignant and fulfilling as possible. Their tears were real and their bond evident as they acted out their final moments (for now, we hope). The beginning of the end was in Marlena's apartment, where John heroically spared her from Charlotte's toxic syringe. (OOPS! This is wrong. Marlena lives in a townhouse, not an apartment like this article states.) At the hospital, Marlena was encouraged by the idea that John's memory was returning and implored him to fight. "I need to reach you. You need to reach me. And we can do that through our memories...We have the most beautiful memories in all the wide world." Cue the goosebump-inducing highlights reel, from the first time he asked her to dinner in 1986 to their wedding that August to their now-infamous reunion on the pier when Hall returned to the show in 1991. Marlena kissed his lips and told him she loved him and more flashbacks – this time of romantic moments – played. John's eyes popped open. "I remember," he whispered. "I remember all of it, Doc. Especially you." Her smile and tears said it all. "You remember everything?" she asked hopefully. "Everything," he assured her. "You and me from the beginning." He then struggled to tell her that he loved her, getting as far as "I love" before closing his eyes again. "I love, too," Marlena responded happily. Kayla entered with the reason the couple had to exit Salem as soon as possible: John's case was sensitive and if he stayed in University Hospital for even one more day, his chances of recovery were slim. Marlena vowed to take him to Switzerland immediately, then ushered Brady in to see his father. "There's my boy. There's my son," John smiled, eyes brimming with tears. "I'm damn proud of you, kid. I always loved you...You were always in my heart." Roman showed up, as did Stefano, who, for once, was not responsible for the Blacks' turmoil. John was alarmed when he realized he was paralyzed from the neck down and Marlena told him of the damage Charlotte had done. With tears flooding their eyes, he asked her to marry him again, then and there. She hurried off to summon Father Jansen and ran into a reflective Phoenix, who assured her he had nothing to do with what happened. She didn't care, noting that he couldn't hurt them anymore. While Father Jansen performed a quickie ceremony in John's hospital room, Stefano watched from outside and gave John a meaningful farewell wave. (Please Note: Stefano saluted John through the window of John's hospital room. He didn't wave to him like is stated in this article.) Their vows were affecting, summing up why their romance has endured for twenty-three years. "John and I...were simply meant to be together," Marlena stated. "But there's been nothing very simple about it. We always found our way back together. This time was, uh, pretty challenging. The minute I looked into your eyes, I knew...that the love of my life was there, right there somewhere inside. I knew we'd be together again – forever." "That love means everything to me," he replied. "Without it, I can't breathe. You're my life, Doc. The reason I wake up every morning. I love you." "I love you, with all my heart," she smiled. "I'm so blessed to have you back in my life. I am never, ever going to let you go. Not ever." Was it the ending everyone hoped for? Not exactly. But through their stirring performances, Hall and Hogestyn took lemons and made the sweetest lemonade possible, giving their loyal following a heartfelt farewell. SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 2/24/09