Life and Death

Today I've found myself deep in thought.

When I was in the 5th grade, I was in elementary school in Austin, Texas. In music class one day we were given the option to watch Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. At that point, I didn't know who he was, much less did I know what the video would include. And, as my parents would probably say, I was a wimp when it came to videos. Scary stuff never worked for me. I stayed in the room for the Jackson video, but wound up weirded-out and sat by the door with my eyes looking at the door, not at the video. I remember sitting there wondering what that had to do with my musical education. I didn't really care, I will admit, but I wondered it. I was a scared kid watching avoiding a video I didn't grasp. I wasn't scarred, but I remember that as my first exposure to Michael Jackson.

I remember sometime later he had his hair catch fire when filming a video. By that point, I think I owned one or two of his albums. I knew who he was, and he was cool. I could sing the songs, but could never moonwalk.

As I entered Middle School, we did "We are the World" and raised money for people in other countries. We watched the video with all the people in the music industry as they sang about making a difference. I remember being taught to care about kids and people in Africa, while I wondered how it was that people in America were overweight and always saying, "I'm on a diet."

Somewhere in that season, the Thriller video became cool to me and I was doing the little dance that went with it. (Never did moon walk though!) I knew the songs, and could picture all his dances in my mind.

While I enjoyed his music, I don't remember having a crush on him. I don't remember thinking, "I want to be him when I grow up!" I don't remember wanting to be in the same room with him, or following him as the media did.

The older I got, whenever I would hear something about him, or see him, I wondered how happy he was on the inside. I remember being thankful I wasn't famous, and I could go anywhere and do anything without the press taking pictures. I always wanted him to be happy. I never wanted to meet him or anything, but as I watched him grow, I wondered a lot about him each time I saw his picture. Weird? No, that wasn't what I ever thought. I felt sadness every time I saw him.

My interpretation was (and still is) that he wasn't secure in the skin he was in. He was changing his appearance...not staying as God created him. Which is fine, that was obviously his choice, and it's not for any of us to judge him. I just remember feeling sad for him. I didn't know the man, yet I always felt compassion for a man who had some good songs and tried to make a difference in his own, unique way. He changed lives, trying to make the world a better place. We should all be striving to make a difference in our own, positive way.

So today, along with most of the world I think, I watched Jackson's funeral. I haven't shed any tears or felt the need to go stand outside the Staples Center and be a part of the festivities. I was content right here in the comfort of my own home, with a dog asleep at my feet.

As I watched, I was very happy about how respectful the crowd was during the ceremony. l thought that all the obsessed fans would be, well, obsessed, and not be respectful to the family and friends of the world-famous celebrity. I am glad I was wrong.

I watched and thought about a family who has just lost a loved one. It is no different than me, the average american, losing a loved ones. The emotions, sense of loss, and knowledge that someone they love is now in Heaven and no longer here to be a part of their lives. The main difference is that the media is watching their every move.

I really, really wish the media could leave them alone. There are family members grieving a loss of a life, and yet I turn on the TV and hear "who will get the children?" Is that our business? I don't think so.

Life is a fragile thing, one that should be handled with care...and death should be handled with respect as well.

I was happy with how the funeral went.

In the end, I was left with one final thought, as I turned off the funeral.

Life is good.

Life is too short not to enjoy it while we're here.

It seems to me the older I get, the faster each year goes by.

Before we know it, we'll be in Heaven too.

So, let's enjoy the ride...

Life.
Is.
Good.