I'm a fan (and you should be too) because...

Michael Jackson is a man who I deeply admire for his strong individuality expressed in his music, his generosity, and his life. His music speaks to my heart. In it I find comfort, fun, passion, love, encouragement, righteous indignation, and life's most significant and commonplace facets. His music is the soundtrack of every aspect of life - big and small. It's like a best friend who stays with me through the good times and the bad times. Michael's dance is awe-inspiring, passionate, sexy, free. He is magic and a marvel to watch as he uses his body to emote, chastise, entice.

Michael Jackson is a man I respect for his genius, his versatility, his intellect. I am amazed at his knowledge and wisdom on many subjects. Never one to boast, Michael shyly speaks of this vast range of knowledge rearely. Yet, if one listens closely, you'll find it there.

Michael Jackson is a man I admire for all his accomplishments. True, his accomplishments are awesome, but I appreciate more the intense focus and dedication that he pours into his work and his contributions. His efforts to make the most of his gifts and share these with the world around him.

I admire MJ for his unselfish commitment to make the world a better place for humanity through his generous giving. What really impresses me is how he touches lives at individuals levels, valuing each person with as much love as a family member or a friend.

He melts my heart when I view videos of MJ with his children. He taught them with love, gentleness, and such respect for their intelligence. I loved how he talked with them about life's important issues - "you can be what you want to be", "i wish you success, which is love", "persevere". Even when they were babies, MJ taught them life's grand lessons in his usual loving and gentle way.

I truly admire MJ for surviving all the challenges of life with grace and a smile, with inner and spiritual strength. MJ thrived in spite of his health issues. He recovered from the lies, the invectives, the hurtful stories. In his own words, he was a "warrior"! A lesser man would have given up, comforted by his millions, and conformed. But MJ lived his life's mission, his passion, and continues to give to us - his music, his dance, his courage, his love, his care and nurture.

In all of his greatness, his successes, his triumphs, he remained graciously humble. In that humility was his faith expressed that could not be broken.

Other little tidbits I love about MJ -
His smile is captivating. His hugs are never half-hearted. He never spoke ill of anyone (well, hardly). He let one child smash an egg on his head on an Easter egg hunt. He humored kids for them to throw him into the pool - fully clothed. He honored Sammy Davis, Jr. and James Brown for their work that paved the way for the next generation of artists. I love, love, love the way he giggles and laughs. His creativity is so expansive. He used his influence to call attention to AIDS at Clinton's events. He used his influence to demand that conditions in an orphanage be made better...or he won't get on stage. And so many countless examples of MJ's huge heart full of love and a life lived with courage, passion and fun. A life that made a significant difference, a life that birthed immortal songs, a life that inspires, encourages, and creates changes to reach a higher level of human condition.

MJ is truly the perfect package.

P.S. All my tenses are mixed-up. It's still very hard for me to write in the past tense and when I try to correct my tenses, I start crying. So you will find a confusing mix of past and present. But in my heart, it MJ will always reign in present tense! I love you, MJ!