Childhood Reminder #4: Michael Jackson

Where do I start? A piece of my childhood died yesterday. I LOVED Michael Jackson as a child. While most girls were into Madonna and Debbie Gibson, I was into Michael Jackson. I don't remember too much about the Thriller obsession, because I was only 2, but I do remember having nightmares from seeing the music video on MTV. And does anyone remember the Captain Eo attraction at Disneyworld? Yeah, I saw it..and just like every other kid was completely mezmerized.

A music legend left us today. I'm not going to talk about the troubled Michael Jackson, as that was a result of his abusive upbringing and exploitation. I want to remember the Michael Jackson that I knew as a kid....John Mayer put it best with "I truly hope he is memorialized as the '83 moonwalking, MTV owning, mesmerizing, unstoppable, invincible Michael Jackson."

When old school Michael Jackson comes on, you can't help but dance! I'm listening to "Bad" right now as I write this, shaking my shoulders and bobbing my head. It's like my body has a mind of it's own when it comes to this music. Last night, Kay and I were on our way to Yacht Rock at Ten High, but then I heard "Man in the Mirror" blasting on the jukebox inside The Dard Horse. The music took over, and we quickly ran inside and danced the night away with strangers to all the MJ classics. It truly is dynamic and captivating.

Remember the old school Michael Jackson? This man came ALIVE when he was on stage. He defined pop music and created dance moves that made our jaws drop. Music, dancing and entertaining was all he ever knew....it was what made him the King of Pop and what may have ultimately killed him. As tragic as Michael's story ended, I remember and celebrate the musical mark that he left on the world.