Michael Jackson, Tremendous loss.
Posted by December | Posted in MISC. | Posted on 04-07-2009
Tags: MISC.
13
“How come he is on every single magazine?” my oldest son asks, pointing to the rack of US weekly’s, Peoples, and LIFE magazines that picture the face of Michael Jackson in the days following his death. “He died right?” He asks innocently enough.
For a moment I am relieved from the pressure of explaining death. My son did not know Michael Jackson, though he can sing along with most of his songs and can recognize his face in music videos and emulate the king of pop’s fancy footwork. I sigh, the weight of the death heavy in the presence of children. I do what I always do, and simplify.
“Well,” I start, not wanting to bullshit my own kid. “He changed the world, with music.” I tell him, the truth a little easier once it leaves my lips. “I am very sad about it.” I admit for the first time to everyone in ear shot, including the portly man standing behind me in line. I hear a sharp huff from his lips as I put the magazine back onto the rack.
“Sicko.” He says, in reference to the Magazine. He makes no effort to keep such a nasty word to himself, he says it loud enough for my seven year old to hear. His seven year old face crinkles in confusion and I smile to shrug off the moron who can’t keep his trap shut. I push the cart forward, out of ear shot to answer the questions my son has.
Michael Jackson’s history is my history. He was a part of entertainment as long as I have been alive and his music has been a part of my collection for as long as I have loved the art. My mother listened to him, singing alone in the kitchen when she thought no one was looking. Man in the mirror played quietly as I sat in the front seat of that camaro where I first kissed a boy. My girlfriend and I danced to Billie Jean on the stage of a bar in New Orleans that year we turned 19. Michael Jackson had somehow touched more of my life than I took the time to realize, until he died.
My young son, following closely in the footsteps of his beat addicted mother, asks questions about him. Who was he? Why was he so important? What was he so good at?
We sit together with the internet browser pulling up clips from Jackson’s career. My three boys ranging from 7 to 5 to 2, listen as I play the greatest of his tunes. I show them the way that Michael Jackson became a star from childhood, and eventually changed to the King of Pop. They tire easily of the stories about where I heard this song for the first time, or how I learned to moonwalk. But they never tire of the songs. We play the videos on the bigscreen and the kids dance to the beat, trying to perfect the moves they see on the screen.
One of the biggest stories of our time, the death of Michael Jackson at the young age of fifty. More than other performers, Jackson endured the scrutiny of an entire world, for the adoration of few. We have seen a tremendous loss.
For a lifetime of entertaining the world, despite the pitfalls and dramatics that come with it, Thank you.
© 2009, AntiSoccermom. All rights reserved to the original author unless stated otherwise.
Related posts:
AntiSoccermom is an alternative parenting site for those of us that refuse to parent within the constraints of modern society. Covering everything from parenting to pot-politics, there is always something new to read. Check out AntiSoccermom's Radio show at JohnDoeRadio.com and catch up with her on facebook. 
It made me sad, too. Even if I was a bit young/not born when he was at his finest. Whatever a person thinks of his personal life or him as a person, it’s hard to deny that he had a HUGE impact on music (and dance) as we know it.
Without going into too much detail, I don’t believe he was guilty of everything they layed on him, but that doesnt mean I would let my kids stay over at his ranch. He put more into entertainment than anyone ever has, and I think that its terribly sad but we will probably never see another entertainer as dedicated as he was. Thanks for coming by, again!
*nods* I can agree with you on pretty much everything you said here in this comment. :]
I know how much he meant to me growing up. Listening to Thriller, Billie Jean. I can even remember some of the Jackson 5 classics when I was just a toddler. Michael was larger than life. And the way he’s being covered now (some of it annoying) is proof.
I’ll miss him. But his music shall never die.
Very well spoken… It’s seems so surreal but we all must face the music someday.
I grew up to his tunes, hell, I would watch his concert videos every single day during my summer holidays, and despite everything, I decide not to indulge in finger pointing and just believe that now he’s dead, let him be, and let God be the judge of his actions.
he was one of a kind. Only one. Nobody can take his place. Someone might come close, never be like Mike. A moron calling a guy a sicko with no damn proof that he did anything sick-he has the issues. I grew up on MJ’S songs, videos and I’ll stil blare them to my speakers blow out. Rest in peace, Mike. It’s about time people leave you alone.
I still didn’t get a response from Staples Center….
I preferred Prince.
My mom and I were discussing this the other day, about how different generations see him in different lights. My parents remember him as an entertainer, who produced some kick ass music. By the time I was old enough to be fully aware what was going on, he had turned weird. None the less, his music is still amazing, and will live on though generations.
Hi Good morning!
Am from India and have yet to listen to both these masterpieces of his–Thriller and BJ!
Sadaboy@xanga
I wonder how this obituary would read if he had been convicted of child molestation.
He was found innocent of child molestation. I believe that it is the parents fault. Michael was amazing, but creepy. Given the chance, my children would not be spending the night with him before his death. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Tried and true, if there was question about his actions with children, why did he have access to them? The parents fed their child to the dragon, if he was a pedophile. But again, the court system found him innocent.
Yeah. Truly a music legend. I never understood him, but I will always enjoy his tunes.