I'm a fan of Michael Jackson because his music defined very pivotal moments of my life. My youth. He always just....."was" and I cannot imagine the "is not" now. I thank him always for the chance to travel back to these times...it's as easy as listening to "I Want You Back", "ABC", "Shake Your Body Down To The Ground", "Off The Wall", "Human Nature" and I could go on and on. When I was in the sixth grade, so was he and the J5's music was was what was on AM top forty radio and everyone able to listen to the radio knew the words to the songs. When I was sixteen, Michael's robot in "Dancing Machine" dared us polyester packing disco maniacs to stay atop our platforms. And in my twenties, I saw the emergence of MTV and Michael's redefinition of the music video and for as long as I breathe, I will never, ever forget Motown's 25th or the first time seeing Thriller. Ever. Emotions defy descriptions when trying to lay down in print what it was like to see "little Mike" transform into one of the greatest megastars the globe has ever seen and to be a part of this phenomenon is something I'll be eternally grateful for. This was only yesterday surely even though I realize the passing of twenty-five years. I've used Michael's music and videos to "take me back" innumerable times and just as countless were the times that I longed for him to "return" to selfishly validate my own youth but also his as well.

Michael, I will utterly miss you forever but you and your music, your legacy, your love of the world, will always be the happiest, most carefree harbinger of the most delightful memories of my past, my youth and my life. The world is bereft of your presence dearest one but you will always be "Forever in Our Hearts".