Goodbye...

As we all know by now, Michael Jackson has passed away. Rather than grieve about his death, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate his life.

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I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. My mom had all of his records from when he was with the Jackson 5. When he went solo, she had all of those records too. No matter how hard things may have been growing up, when you listened to his music, you kind of forgot about it all. His music just made you feel good... feel alive. He was also a wonderful performer who would always put on an amazing show. I still remember trying to moonwalk in my kitchen, because I wanted to be like Mike. I had the afro, the glove, the jacket, the posters... I had it all.

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His impact was not only felt here in America, but all around the world. His music was universal and brought people from all different backgrounds together. He used his celebrity and influence to bring awareness to many social issues across the globe. His work would go a long way in helping to provide food in Africa, as well as raising money for AIDS research. Too many times we get caught up in the 750 million records sold worldwide, but his humanitarian efforts may have had an even greater impact on the world.

Later in his life he was criticized for some abnormal behavior such as numerous plastic surgeries, suspected bleaching of his skin, and multiple child molestation allegations. He was considered weird. He has never been convicted of any crime, but he seemed to take a hit when it came to the court of public opinion. Now I don't condone any of this alleged behavior. All I can say is even though he is the greatest entertainer of our time, he is still a man, and no man is perfect. He has been on stage his whole life. He never had a normal childhood. Who is to say what is normal to him? So as an adult... if he wants to have a roller coaster in his backyard and chimps walking around juggling in tuxedo's... so be it.

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Ultimately, his legacy will live on forever. His influence on the music and the entertainment industry is evident in so many of our artists today. His music is timeless. I am just thankful for the opportunity to have grown up while he was in his prime, and experience his creativity and influence first hand. Thanks Michael.

And for a quick laugh... a picture of me when I was five...
Ok that's all for now... thank you for visiting and stay tuned...