"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