GOD Bless The King…

wow…. what a sad day in music. the iconic, michael jackson has passed away. i’ll always remember where i was and how i felt when i heard the news. i was preparing to drop my friend off at the airport when someone twitted that he’d had a heart attack. i went onto tmz and saw the post. i kept up on it and told my friend who contacted janet’s god daughter, her cousin, and the updates kept coming in. i know a lot of people thought i was “jumping the gun” and with the way the media operates, i completely understand. our information was coming from janet, so we were knew everything a little before other people. when the confirmation came in… i still haven’t tapped into exactly what i felt when i learned he was gone *i can’t seem to lock it in* i’m just beyond words.

it’s so amazing when music transcends the generations. very few artists last decades and decades over. our parents and their siblings listened to michael. our siblings and their friends listened to michael. we’ve listened to and imitated and taken inspiration from michael. it begins to sink in, that the “creation” of it all stopped today. we will always cherish what we have been blessed to share and experience this far, but there won’t be anymore. it feels so unreal.

i dropped my friend off at the airport and came home to make a sign. my little brother and i went up to ucla medical center where michael was pronounced dead and the energy was just amazing. there were a few people crying - bawling - but for the most part, everyone sorta wore a half smile. there was definitely the feeling of grief. a great man gone is a great loss gained. but it was more interesting to see the smiles; people remembering michael and their favorite songs; people giving positive energy. there was a guy with a boombox playing michael songs; some dudes broke out in a battle of the moonwalk; it was a sight to see. as we walked up, it became obvious that we were the only ones who came with a sign because photographers and journalists from every station imaginable began flocking to us. i think we did about 10-15 on camera interviews and probably took about 200-300 pictures if you count all the fans that just wanted to snap a pic of our sign. there was a nice gentleman who handed me a beautiful sunflower when i walked up. he said it looked good with the sign; we quickly became the focal point and although i looked a terrible mess, i’m glad everyone got to see our little sign. it was from the heart and just simply said “we love michael, rip” 

it was an experience i’m glad to have been a part of. there were doctors and patients and all sorts of people inside the hospital looking down at the crowd. i imagined the family was somewhere doing the same and got to see us holding our little sign. if they didn’t know it before today, they know just how many people he touched.

michael… you are in so much of everything we do with music. you were a masterful creative genius. there is not an artist alive who doesn’t appreciate your contribution. we can all remember our favorite song, favorite video, favorite t.v moment, favorite outfit, favorite hairstyle (”remember the time” took me to some very special places), our favorite everything about you. you wrote your own life. you grew and lived in front of us and did the same right along you. for every moment in our lives; every emotion and feeling, you had a song for us to relate to and we will never forget you. your music brought about a unity among us that is undeniable. people of all ethnicities and backgrounds all over the world in every city and country loved your music and if at no other time in our lives could put down whatever difference existed to enjoy your wonderful songs. for years over, you have set the bar for good music and please rest assured that there will never be anyone else like you. you served your purpose here on earth and now your spirit has transitioned. may you forever rest in the arms of GOD knowing that the trouble you endured here was worth the final reward… love miles long and mountains high

R.I.P Michael Joseph Jackson 1958-2009