“This is it” for Michael Jackson

I am still deeply sadden by the news I found out at work yesterday, Thursday, June 25, 2009 at around 330pm PST, the news that Michael Jackson was dead.  As someone walked into my office and said Michael Jackson died, I immediately picked up my phone to look on Twitter to see what tweeples were saying.  My whole timeline was filled with mixed news, one that MJ was dead and another that he was in a coma.  I then went to my computer online to CNN.com and their headlines read, “Michael Jackson has been taken to the hospital,” but would not confirm that he was dead.  It took a few moments before it was actually confirmed that Michael Jackson had indeed passed.  I was in complete shocked and felt like I was being told that a close family member had died.  I had an anxiety type feeling in my chest and and my eyes became watery.  I turned on the radio and the marathon of MJ’s songs were playing in tribute.

I have been a fan of Michael Jackson’s since I was about 5 years old.  My very first concert, was Michael Jackson’s BAD World Tour in 1988.  I remember the concert so vividly in my head and that I was sitting near a speaker and was far from the stage because I had to look at the monitor in order to see him.  My mom had taken my brother and I because we both were such huge fans of Michael Jackson.  

MJ was an idol to both my brother and I and we always performed his songs.  My brother had dressed as Michael Jackson for Halloween that year and I was Tina Turner.  We kept the costumes and we along with our cousins, choreographed a signed language performance of  ”We are the World” to share at Christmas time to our family.  It’s amazing that I was so young, but yet I remember it so well, it was a great moment in my life.  

I was 13 years old in 1993 when Michael Jackson was being accused of molestation of a minor.  I didn’t want to believe that Michael Jackson really did this to a child.  I was hoping that the results would prove that MJ was innocent. I just remember being told that he was not going to go to jail, I was excited.  In 2005, when Michael was again being charged with child abuse, I was more informed on the situation.  Jackson verdict was not guilty on all accounts, which relieved me but many still believed he was guilty.  

I have always admired Michael Jackson for his talent and support he gave to charities.  Even though Michael Jackson did change in appearance from when I first became a fan and his mental state at times was unstable, I have always had respect for him.  A few of my favorite songs of Michael Jackson’s are “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Wanna Be Starting Something” and “PYT.”

I am still in shock to think that Michael Jackson is dead and will no longer be coming back for an encore.  I also find it a bit ironic that he had named his London concert, “This is it.”  Although, MJ did not live to start the first day of his London concert, we can still say this is it for Michael Jackson, as he ended his time with us on earth.  I will truly miss Michael Jackson and the entertainment and love be gave to so many.