The Day the Music Died

I am not quite sure where to begin this blog. Even as I sit here and contemplate what I want to say and the emotions I wish to convey, I find myself in a state of shock and denial over today's events.

Michael Jackson passed away this afternoon in California. His heart went into cardiac arrest and although numerous attempts were made to regain a pulse, he could not be revived. He was 50 years old. It seems so strange to be typing this. I suppose it is because his death was so completely unexpected. You always hear that celebrity deaths occur in 3's, as was the case here also. Ed McMahon passed away on Monday, Farrah Fawcett lost her battle with cancer this morning, and Michael died this afternoon. The world is saying goodbye to three legends at once.

I have been a fan of Michael Jackson's since the age of 5. I can clearly remember fighting with my older sister over her Thriller album. I was thrilled when I received my own Thriller album for my 6th birthday. And, of course, how could I forget the power Thriller gave me over my little brother. The video scared him to death and just the song was enough to send him running. At the age of six, I was convinced that I would one day marry Michael. I loved him. His music has continued to provide a soundtrack for my life. I was listening to, "Lady In My Life", on the drive to work tonight. What an amazing song. You would be hard-pressed to find a song that could even compare. It was one of the very first love songs I knew and it still remains one of the best love songs of all time. Every time I listen to it, I just want to melt. It's powerful. I could go on and on listing my favorite MJ songs, but this blog would go on forever.

Elvis passed away in 1977. I was 4 months old. I don't remember the day he died, or the impact it had on the world. Michael Jackson's death is being mourned throughout the world tonight. It is amazing to see everyone coming together to remember this amazingly, talented man. It gives me perspective on what it must have been like on the day Elvis died. My heart is broken and I am in tears tonight, but I can take some comfort in knowing that Michael will live on through his music forever. He left us with songs that will continue to make our hearts dance. He also left the world with an amazing legacy, which will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to them I would also like to say, "Thank you for sharing him with all of us".

Rest in Peace, Michael.