For Michael Jackson

Thursday, the King of Pop passed away. I couldn’t help but be totally shocked. It had come out of nowhere.

I was sitting in my living room with my niece and my cousin when my mom had texted me saying that she heard on the radio that he had passed. My heart jumped into my throat.

You see, Michael Jackson was a big part of my child hood. If it wasn’t for him, my childhood would be very empty. I loved his music and his dancing. I was constantly trying to imitate him.

When he passed, anyone who knew me as a child was calling me asking me how I was and…I was okay or at least I thought I was. I guess it hadn’t really kicked in that he was actually gone.

I was home alone on Saturday watching all of the Michael music videos that they were running. The video for the song “Heal the World” came on and…I broke down. I was crying as if I’d lost a relative. My chest twitched as I tried to catch my breath. Michael Jackson has died and a part of my childhood had died with him. He’s gone, but I will never forget how he shaped me as a person, musician, and music lover. Rest in Peace, Michael Joseph Jackson.