Gone Too Soon...

THIS is the image my Sister and I had on our bedroom wall
when we were young. This handsome, fresh looking, seemingly
innocent young man, full of talent and promise. We were
probably only 8 and 9 when we became enamoured with
Michael Jackson. He was the first BIG star my Sister and I
had a crush on (she more than I!). We had his posters on our
wall, collected his albums and I specifically added stickers
pertaining to him to my ever growing sticker collection.

We lived out in the sticks when we were young, in a little
logging town amongst the trees, we were lucky to get FM
radio to tune in, so I'm surprised we even heard of him! But
high school kids will find a way and we had a neighbor/baby-
sitter that was a cheerleader and we would watch her practice
her dance routine to the song "Beat It" endlessly. I think
that may be where we learned to love his music.

I was with my Aunt in the car when my Uncle called to share
the news. He told her about Farrah Fawcett and Michael
Jackson. Her immediate reaction was that she thought today
should be about Farrah because she had handled her illness
with such dignity and grace, and I agree, she did. I don't
think in any way her passing should be overshadowed by
Michael Jackson's, but I know it will be, because it was
unexpected. I however remember being surprised, but not
shocked. His life has taken so many unexpected and strange
turns. Many sad, some shocking, and I admit a lot weird.
While I agree one passing should not overshadow the other, I
disagree that it should be all about Farrah. I think this is a
generation thing. My Aunt and Mom are from the time of
Charlie's Angels, she was their peer. I think that's why she
has more sympathy for her sad plight. I think I identify with
the Michael Jackson passing more, not because he was a peer,
he was 15 years older than me, but because he was a part of
my childhood. He brings back a time in my life when all was
innocence and play and fun. It was just about the discovery
of music.

Whatever his life became in later years, I'll always hold a special
place in my heart him and the Thriller Album. They always take
me back immediately to my childhood, and my childhood was
wonderful. Michael Jackson's death struck more of a chord in
me because it means the beginning of saying goodbye to people
and things from my childhood. Knowing deep down that this is
the start of saying, "When I was a kid we listened to so and so"
and having the little kids say "Who" because they've never heard
of them, the start of getting OLDER. I guess I knew it had to
happen sooner or later, even if my recent 35th Birthday didn't
convince me!

So to Michael Jackson I say, Thank You for the songs, for
sharing your gift, and for the inner smile I get EVERY time I hear
the song "Beat It". Thank You for the MUSIC to put with the
MEMORIES.