"Smile...though your heart is aching..."

Since the afternoon of June 25th, there has been much press and spectacle concerning the death of Michael Jackson. Fans around the globe have mourned this pop star, some to the extent that you would’ve thought ol’ MJ was a saint or at least a head-of-state. There was tons of speculation as to when and where his funeral would be? Would it be open to the public? Would it he be laid to rest at his Neverland Ranch, much like Elvis Presley was at Graceland? Would there be a public viewing?

Of course there were those grousing about, muttering for anyone to hear of their distain for any such hero-worship of “Wacko Jacko” given his much publicized court hearings for alleged child molestation, the strange way he hid his children behind masks or veils when they were out in public, and his obvious physical changes over the years.

It all came to a head yesterday, July 7th, which ironically was seven years to the day that Michael Jackson signed his will designating his mother as caretaker of his children.

When I first heard that the City of Los Angeles had shut down traffic between Forest Lawn and the Staples Center …I was floored. Having lived out in Los Angeles and experiencing the “lovely” traffic for 3 years, I couldn’t believe it. I also couldn’t believe that they were footing the bill for the huge memorial “service”…which sounded like it would be more like a “show” than a “service”.

I was at work, but I tuned in via the internet. I listened to the heartfelt eulogies. I heard the songs sung in remembrance. I was a little amazed that Michael Jackson’s favorite song was the same as my own…and when his brother, Jermaine, sang it – straight from his heart for his little brother who had gone away – it hit me. When, later, his brothers spoke, and then when his little girl, Paris, put it so plain and simple, as only a child can – it hit me.

Yeah, Michael Jackson…the über-famous King of Pop, love him or hate him…had died. But that wasn’t what hit me. It was not the fact that he was a famous celebrity who had fans crying all over the world, sad because they would not be able to see him or hear new songs from him again. It was not the press coverage. It was not the pomp. It was simply this…that three children had lost their daddy. A mother and father had lost a son. Siblings had lost a brother. Michael Jackson was more than an icon. He was a daddy. He was a son. He was a brother. A cousin. A nephew. A friend. We all have people in our lives that we would be devastated to lose. The Jackson family lost one of theirs. A piece of them is gone forever - and it hurts them. And knowing that hurt, my heart and my prayers go out to them.

Time will help their hearts to heal. They’ll never forget him, but there will be a day when instead of tears, there will be smiles and laughter as they remember him fondly and with love. In that, he will continue to live in their hearts.

“Thank Heaven! The crisis --The danger, is past, and the lingering illness, is over at last --, and the fever called ‘Living’ is conquered at last.” – Edgar Allan Poe

"Friends are friends forever..."

Back when I was in high school, I remember at graduation our choir singing "Friends", a song written and recorded by Michael W. Smith. It was a perfect graduation song...in that it talks about "a chapter in your life is through", etc. We were all teary-eyed because our carefree days of high school were over, our friends that we hung out with on an almost daily basis would be scattering to various colleges, and we weren't sure when or if we would ever see them again. Still we held on tight to the chorus that says, "...friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the lord of them...and a friend will not say never, for the welcome will not end. Though it's hard to let you go, in the Father's hands we know that a lifetime's not too long to live as friends".

(Yeah, it's a Contemporary Christian song...and if we were graduating now instead of 20+ years ago, we probably wouldn't have been allowed to sing it, since we attended a public high school that has since banished any/all things remotely considered "religious"...but that's a rant for another time.)

Sure enough...our friends scattered like the seeds of a dandelion in the breeze. Some ended up in different states, some in different countries. Our once large circle of pals shrunk down to a small handful that we were lucky enough to stay in touch with. I had only two constants from my high school days: Amy & Heather.

Amy & I have been friends since the 5th grade. In high school, our paths crossed in & out via drama club, but for the most part, we hung out with different people. After graduating, we both attended college, took an occasional gen-ed class together, skipped class in favor of french toast for breakfast in the cafeteria, skipped another class in favor for a road trip to a bookstore, worked together on campus, and even carpooled together on occasion. After college, we stayed in touch. Even today, we still get together as often as we can, at least once every month or two, and we talk almost daily via email. We share an obsession with books, Peter Gabriel (we've been to 4 concerts of his together), and greek food.

Heather & I have been friends since I was a sophomore in high school & she was a year behind me as a freshman. We were both very active in drama club & hung out with the same crowd for the most part. I graduated from high school & went to college...she graduated the following year and started working for a law firm where a cousin of mine worked. She was my birthing coach when I had my daughter, I was there for her during her mother's illness and passing, we were honor attendants at each others weddings, I'm "Aunt Amy" to her kids, and she's "Aunt Heather" to my daughter. Today we are as close, if not closer, than ever. We talk on the phone several times a week, get together as much as humanly possible, and email or text message often. She knows me better than anyone on the planet.

These two women are incredibly important to me. I love them both dearly & I thank God often that they're in my life. But...over the years, I've missed my old friends from high school and college. The ones that slipped away. We didn't have email or text messages when we were graduating. It's so much easier for kids today to keep in touch.

Then...Facebook happened.

At first...Facebook confused the life out of me. I heard about how amazing it was from a couple "younger" folks who were in college. Since I was back in college again, I joined...and had 2 friends...one of which was my daughter. I didn't understand it at all. A few years later, Facebook evolved & I went back to it...and found a friend I hadn't talked to in years! I was thrilled! Then, I found another friend. And another! And another! Now I have gotten back in touch with the majority of people whom I was friends with both in high school and in college. Seeing their pictures 20 years after high school is strange. Some have graying hair, many are married and have children, and some are divorced. One is a doctor, one is an Anglican priest, another drives racecars. They've all taken different roads after graduating from high school all those years ago...and all of their roads have converged once again on Facebook.

A couple weeks ago, I ran into a friend of mine whom I was reconnected with via Facebook. We hugged, started chatting...and it was like time hadn't passed. That friendship and love was still there and still strong.

So I guess it wasn't just a silly sentiment we sang at graduation. Friends really can be friends forever!

"Those truly linked don't need correspondence. When they meet again after many years apart, their friendship is as true as ever." ~ Deng Ming-Dao