What's On My Mind Tonight
July 8th 2009 05:30
For the past two weeks, we've seen nothing but Michael Jackson coverage since he took his last breath on June 25. Today, he was finally laid to rest through his public memorial service televised on every major news network both on television and on the internet.
Being that I was at work, I was still able to catch the service live on cnn.com and cry along with the other millions of fans watching. No one enjoys a memorial service, no matter how awesome the performances are or how powerful the words said are or even how captivating the video montages may be. But what touched me about today was the incredible love that was shown for a man that many had almost forgotten or had written off years ago with his mounting legal troubles and lack of new music or tours.
The city of LA didn't know what to expect, asking for people to stay home unless they had tickets to the service and even going so far as to ask for donations to offset the cost of providing police services. It was as if LA was expecting mobs of fans acting as if they were going to a death metal concert and possibly moshing in pits of sympathy, rather than what we witnessed today. There were no arrests, no violence, no unruly fans needing to be dragged away. Instead, there were respectful mourners, celebratory witnesses to this historical passing of an American icon. The performances were nice, the words spoken touched my heart, but the most poignant moment came when his daughter, Paris, spoke as a child attesting to her love for her father.
If there was a dry eye in the world before she spoke, I don't believe they remained that way after her words. I lost my father when I was 21 and I'm still having trouble believing or dealing with him being gone. But at that moment, to hear the voice of an 11 year girl standing over the casket of her Dad, I was immediately taken back to my own father's services and the pan I felt at realizing that he was gone. That his voice, his hugs, his kisses, and his smile were forever gone only leaving me with memories to try to hold on to before they fade into darkness. At that moment, I saw that Michael Jackson was beyond just an awesome entertainer and humanitarian for children's causes, but that he was a son, a brother an uncle, and especially a father to Paris and her siblings.
When all was said and done, his remains were removed and whisked away to their next destination. His family was ushered out to their waiting motorcade, and fans made their ways out into the streets holding on to the their evidence of attendance. Now, life will return to normal and the 24/7 coverage will slowly die down. Political war of words will fill the airwaves again, more senators and congressman will admit to extramarital affairs, and our economic woes will still hang over our heads. But the Jackson family will have to now figure out how to continue back to normal one family member short. Three children will have to now look forward to life without their father guiding them and catching them when they fall. I look at my son and pray everyday that I am able to remain with him through to adulthood. I pray that I will never have to bury my child or leave my child alone before he matures. I can't say that I totally know how the Jackson family feels tonight, but I can say that their Michael was loved, his children will having live testimony that their father was cherished by millions. If he could not find peace while living, hopefully now, peace has found him in death. God bless and rest in peace gloved one, you will be missed!
Being that I was at work, I was still able to catch the service live on cnn.com and cry along with the other millions of fans watching. No one enjoys a memorial service, no matter how awesome the performances are or how powerful the words said are or even how captivating the video montages may be. But what touched me about today was the incredible love that was shown for a man that many had almost forgotten or had written off years ago with his mounting legal troubles and lack of new music or tours.
If there was a dry eye in the world before she spoke, I don't believe they remained that way after her words. I lost my father when I was 21 and I'm still having trouble believing or dealing with him being gone. But at that moment, to hear the voice of an 11 year girl standing over the casket of her Dad, I was immediately taken back to my own father's services and the pan I felt at realizing that he was gone. That his voice, his hugs, his kisses, and his smile were forever gone only leaving me with memories to try to hold on to before they fade into darkness. At that moment, I saw that Michael Jackson was beyond just an awesome entertainer and humanitarian for children's causes, but that he was a son, a brother an uncle, and especially a father to Paris and her siblings.
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