Michael Jackson

On a routine drive home from work, I heard the tragic news on the radio that Michael Jackson had died. I was so stunned, I don't even remember the drive home. Friends and family were calling me asking if I'd heard. Everyone was shocked and dumbfounded.

Now there's nothing new about celebrities dying tragically but not Michael Jackson. He was 50 yars old. I'm 52. That's too close. That's too personal. He was on a come back, he can't be dead. He had the world at his feet. How can this be? The world loves Michael Jackson, this just can't be.

It was all over the tv, the news, radio and tabloids. But while everyone is expressing shock and disbelief, all the news wants to focus on is how Michael changed over the years. The cosmetic surgery, the hair, the skin tone, the legal & financial woes. I don't want to think about any of that. I'm struggling with how much a part of my youth he was and how it's all behind me now. I'm struggling with why money couldn't buy him the youth he was denied. I'm struggling with the lost talent and possibilities of what could have been in his come back. I'm struggling not to feel old and vulnerable.

So I'm going to celebrate Michael by remembering him in better times. When he was that little boy with talent larger than his afro. On-demand and I will have a youth fest and cycle through all his videos. I'm going back to a time when dancing solved everything. When all the boys had those red pretend leather jackets and everyone did the moonwalk. I'm going to sing along, dance along (as much as I can) and pray that he finally found peace and Neverland.

Linda Jones said it much better than I did on her 'Nappy Hair Affair' website. Read her article titled: "The Michael that I choose to see, is resting naturally". It's so true. That article and on-demand will help me though this. Hopefully.

Annette