Ten Things I've Realized in Light of Michael Jackson's Death
Yesterday, June 25, was a shocker of a day. I awoke to the news that Farrah Fawcett had lost her battle with cancer. I knew she had gone back in to the hospital, but with cases like cancer hospital visits can be good news or bad. I truly was not expecting her to die. It was sad to hear because I know she wanted to live. She had said she wanted to beat the cancer. I was not a fan though I did watch "Charlie's Angels" semi-religiously (even when it got rather ridiculous).
Not finding anything to watch on television, I popped in an old Barbara Stanwyck film called "Sorry, Wrong Number." It was not as good as I had hoped but I stuck it out, just to say, "Yeah, I've seen that."
After the movie, I headed on over to MSNBC just to see what was going on only to find out that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital after a collapse. As history shows, it got progressively worse until the final news was announced: Michael Jackson, pop music's greatest performer, had died from cardiac arrest June 25, 2009 at 2:26 p.m., Pacific Time. He would have been 51 in August.
Of course, this is absolutely shocking news. It is a shocking, sudden end to someone who I've known of all my life. I've always known Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. My sister listened to them. We watched their cartoon show. I have memories in my mind that pre-date many things. I have memories that pre-date Star Wars... but I cannot recall a time when I did not know who Michael Jackson was.
So, I am trolling the web to read reactions, thoughts, postings from his legion of fans all over the world and I came across some posts entitled "Ten Things I've Realized in Light of Michael Jackson's Passing."
Here's what I've realized:
10. I did not cry when I heard that Michael died. I guess because Michael had devolved into such a tragic figure, his actual death came as no surprise. I realized that I had mourned Michael's death long ago.
9. No one lives forever but by touching so many people with his music, Michael's legacy remains. Just like Elvis & John Lennon. Heck, three hundred years after Mozart died, we were making films about him! Immortality is only achieved through accomplishment and such accomplishment that touches (for good or ill) the entire world.
8. I really liked Captain Eo. I enjoyed sitting in the theater at Disneyland and unwinding for the ten or fifteen minutes while watching that short. And Anjelica Huston is in it so no complaints, right?
7. What was so cool about Thriller, the song, is Vincent Price's monologue. The song itself is a classic Halloween dance tune.
6. Life is short, fragile, and even when you are famous beyond all dreams, you can end up tragically afraid and alone.
5. No fight, no feud, no disagreement should last beyond the final breath.
4. Michael was best when he still looked black. Sorry, but it is true.
3. I probably won't be able to listen to "She's Out of My Life" without crying anymore.
2. Despite all his faults, real or not, he still got the world to dance and I think we--as a species--do better when we dance with each other. Preferably naked.
1. Cherish the ones we love because as long as we hold them in our hearts, they never truly leave us. Ever.
Not finding anything to watch on television, I popped in an old Barbara Stanwyck film called "Sorry, Wrong Number." It was not as good as I had hoped but I stuck it out, just to say, "Yeah, I've seen that."
After the movie, I headed on over to MSNBC just to see what was going on only to find out that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital after a collapse. As history shows, it got progressively worse until the final news was announced: Michael Jackson, pop music's greatest performer, had died from cardiac arrest June 25, 2009 at 2:26 p.m., Pacific Time. He would have been 51 in August.
Of course, this is absolutely shocking news. It is a shocking, sudden end to someone who I've known of all my life. I've always known Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. My sister listened to them. We watched their cartoon show. I have memories in my mind that pre-date many things. I have memories that pre-date Star Wars... but I cannot recall a time when I did not know who Michael Jackson was.
So, I am trolling the web to read reactions, thoughts, postings from his legion of fans all over the world and I came across some posts entitled "Ten Things I've Realized in Light of Michael Jackson's Passing."
Here's what I've realized:
10. I did not cry when I heard that Michael died. I guess because Michael had devolved into such a tragic figure, his actual death came as no surprise. I realized that I had mourned Michael's death long ago.
9. No one lives forever but by touching so many people with his music, Michael's legacy remains. Just like Elvis & John Lennon. Heck, three hundred years after Mozart died, we were making films about him! Immortality is only achieved through accomplishment and such accomplishment that touches (for good or ill) the entire world.
8. I really liked Captain Eo. I enjoyed sitting in the theater at Disneyland and unwinding for the ten or fifteen minutes while watching that short. And Anjelica Huston is in it so no complaints, right?
7. What was so cool about Thriller, the song, is Vincent Price's monologue. The song itself is a classic Halloween dance tune.
6. Life is short, fragile, and even when you are famous beyond all dreams, you can end up tragically afraid and alone.
5. No fight, no feud, no disagreement should last beyond the final breath.
4. Michael was best when he still looked black. Sorry, but it is true.
3. I probably won't be able to listen to "She's Out of My Life" without crying anymore.
2. Despite all his faults, real or not, he still got the world to dance and I think we--as a species--do better when we dance with each other. Preferably naked.
1. Cherish the ones we love because as long as we hold them in our hearts, they never truly leave us. Ever.
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