Thu. Jul 02, 2009 | 7:45 AM

Al MJ.jpg

A week ago today the world lost an Icon.

And while the complete circumstances are still being sorted out, those of us touched by Michael Jackson are left to deal with the loss. Some of us have watched wall-to-wall coverage on news networks and video channels, others retreated to a quiet place, listened to some of his music - maybe even toasted to his life with a friend or two.

My experience was a bit surreal. I was actually on the air when news started to leak out and had the unfortunate responsibility of relaying the news to folks who had not yet heard. That duty and the gravity of the story, delayed my ability to really take in the news. Once I got home, I grabbed a bottle and was able to relax a bit and it all started to sink in a little more as I watched the news and read updates on Facebook. It also hit home a little more when I was asked to write a quote for a local newspaper. As I waited for friends to join me, I began to sip on my Moscoto and wrote the following statement:

For all the controversies, scandals and occasional absurd eccentrics ... I will remember Michael Jackson for his talent, innovation, his magnetic presence, his genius... His SOUL. MJ's impact on artistry, performance and music will last through the ages. His art touched people from all walks, faiths, creeds and colors. There isn't a corner of the world that escapes a feeling of loss today. We only get one Michael Jackson, and I had had the privilege to experience him for 36 years. Thanks Mike! (and by the way, you delivered one hell of a bridge!)

We all deal with death differently. When my father passed, telling stories and laughing with family helped me. Last week, writing those words helped start the coping process for me. Some may not understand how you react, grasp and cope with loss. But that's ok. Your grief is yours - their grief is theirs. There is no right or wrong way to mourn or to absorb loss. There is simply your way.

Now that we are a week removed I would like to know; How has the loss of Michael Jackson affected you? How did you deal with the news? What did MJ mean to you? Reading your words, sure would help me.

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it didnt hit me until a month later. it really hurt because he is such an idol to me!!! i cry all the time for him and i miss him so much!!! its put me deeper down because i have lost a lot of ppl.and when i thought it was over for a while, michael my biggest idol, the one that made such a big deal to me, died!!! i feel both inner and outer pain from his death!!! may he rest in peace!!! we love you michael!!!!
Posted by nicole cherie 09/06/09 12:45 PM
 
For me, it was so much more than a loss of my idol or favourite singer and dancer. Michael was so so so much more than a entertainer I enjoyed to watch or listen to. He literally saved my life. If there were no Michael Jackson, I would probably be another person, I would get inspired by distructive things that surrounded me. Although he was far away, and we didnt know eachother,he kept me away from all the things I very easily could get stuck on!By singing and dancing like he did and being so unique he learned us to do it like Michael. The MJ-way. He was the man who learned me how to be a gentlemen,since there was no other man around. The one who told me how to charm a girl, and the one who learned me how to survive, and the man who told me to start with the man in the mirror. He truly is my hero, and will forever be my one and only hero. I've been crying almost every day,can't believe I wont get to see him one more time ..
Posted by Soheil 24 yrs 08/09/09 9:08 AM
 
Well first of all this news completely shocked me i just couldn't stop crying until now. I was a huge fan and always will be from the beginning. Michael was the sweetest, most caring, pure person. He cared so much for everyone from his fans to helping sick children he truly was also one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived. His music will live on forever. The media has been so hard on him ever since he was little, and yet he always had a smile on his face and coped with all of his troubles and the rumors and lies the media would make about him.. I believe he never Ever touched a child, Michael was too pure and would never ever do such a thing. On the contrary he loved helping them he did such amazing things and gave his heart and time for these children. all those accusations exhausted him the trials back then imagine all the stress and drama and just everything he went through no wonder the man was exhausted. But remember he ALWAYS had a smile on his face. He was brave enough to go through all of this. He will be truly missed his music touched millions and millions of people all over the world. Michael you will be missed . rip.
Posted by isabella 08/08/09 6:09 PM
 
I didn't realize how much I knew about Micheal or how much his music affected me. I was a smallm kid in the 80's and I loved his music, clothes and dancing!!! He was such an icon and did so much for music, always having the newest dance moves. I say people should have treated him in life the way the world morned his death. Took me weeks to realize he had passed and even now I still have a moment of "I can't believe he is gone" I love his music and I will continue that always.
Posted by Sandra Burtch 08/07/09 10:36 AM
 
.. well, I guess I couldnt keep it short!!.. so I thought I could just check out the news real quick by just looking, not hearing,and then go back, into the music. Michael is never the backgroud music in our house, if you gonna listen to it, you'll have to reeaally listen to it, because it touches you so much.Then I saw his face on the screen. I didnt read the text under his picture, I just saw the words. All of a sudden "Human nature" the song that always made me feel so warm inside didnt help me anymore, I became coldest winter in scandinavia, in the middle of our bliss! the reporter didnt look so happy, but I became calm, and his voice became warm and comforting again. I didnt believe it, I thought they probably would apologize for the false news after an hour. my cellphone ringing, my sister in the kitching still singing along,as she was making sandwhiches. I just cried as I was watching my brothers and sisters in Iran bleeding and crying on the screen, I turned up the volume of human nature so that my sister could'nt hear me crying. but she heard, and she asked me why I was crying, and I lied, I said that im sad because our friends in iran cant get their dreams come true, like us. I didnt want to break it down to her in the middle of our celebrating, her hero was gone. We squizzed our dream so hard in our hands that night by dancing and laughing so that it slipped away from us.
Posted by Anonymous 08/02/09 6:42 AM
 
Hi! Im 18, living in Gothenburg,Sweden. I guess I'll have to keep it short. Me and my sister were talking about outfits for the O2 concert in London, for the big day, the day that our biggest dream would come true, Im crying as I am writing this because I'll never forget the joy and happiness we felt that day. We couldn't decide which outfit, if we should have a pre party or not.. so I just went to my music archive , took the Off the Wall album, and put it on, I went straight for my favourite, track #4 "Get on the floor". I could just feel the adrenaline, I didnt feel joy, I became the joy itself, and I said to myself, "he didnt dissapoint me after all, he's back, this is my turn, this is it". Then I heard my sister shouting to the music, and I laughed, we rolled the rug away, and just danced to his music like it was the first time we heard the song. Pure happiness! The whole world changes when we hear his sweet voice. This was at 8 p.m. (swedish time) We went on talking, singing, jumping and fooling around in the house, because we realized that we were only a month away from the big event. I was exhausted after dancing and laughing, so I sat down and let the music go on as I turned the TV on, and I muted the tv, because I wanted to listen to "Human Nature" one more time, because I love the end of it, such a warm and sweet song. My sister was singing along in the kitchen. I new that the news was on 9 pm, but I just couldnt stop the music, so I thought I can understand
Posted by Sonia Eghtedari 08/02/09 5:07 AM
 
I am 35 years old and did not realize how much Michael Jackson impacted me. Looking back I knew almost all of his songs, as he was a major star in the 1980's. Although I did not know him, he seemed like he was a brother. I am saddened at the lost of his life, as I feel the media helped to kill this man that gave so much to make the world a better place. I pray for the living now (his family) that they will have some peace. And that the media would lay back as they are still trying to find out the cause of death. It seems now that they are just speculating without the facts, which has been done throughout his life. Everyone needs to remember that only God can judge and condemn, not us. As our time will also come. God bless to the Jackson family.
Posted by Doris 07/27/09 12:57 PM
 
Rest of my poem, Dear Michael did not post so I'm sending it again: Dear Michael Missing you cause you're not around Missing you our lives have no sound The music has gone to live in heaven, The bread of life not risen,- is leaven, We've lost a voice who sang for all, He stood so proud, so quiet, so tall. The meekness in his too shy manner, Left the stage and no longer did matter, His voice matched in range by no other, His dance was copied, they could not cover, His words were spoken, they could not utter, His humanity they mocked but could not smother. The love we feel comes from the heart, We loved Dear Michael right from the start. This singing star placed in the sky, Is the "crescent moon" hanging on high We'll often see him sitting there, Kicking his feet, wind blowing in his hair. I promise Dear Michael, I'll do my best, I will not hate, I'll let you rest. We felt your love with every hit, You healed the world and all those in it. To the world "Entertainer" til the end, Those who loved you, we'll call you friend. So Dear Michael while watching from above, Please heal our pain and send us love. The world still grieves Dear Michael for you "soul", For without it we are no longer whole. Good night sweet prince we hold you dear, We'll go to sleep, and dream we feel you near. From your sweet lips to God's own ear, I heard you whisper, I'm here, I'm here. So sing us to sleep and we'll just listen, As the glove on your hand will sparkle and glisten. Now angelic choirs sing your chorus, And your legacy lives on forever for us. Love always,
Posted by Phyllis Patrick 07/24/09 5:04 PM
 
I'm 4 yrs 12 days younger than Michael, so I felt like I grew up w/him. I was in Conn. helping my preg. daugh. move. My son-in-law got a call saying MJ was dead. At 1st I was in shock. Didn't let myself think about it til a week later when I got back to Ohio. Then I cried 2 hrs straight! Started writing and sent condolences to family on facebook. I wrote the following: Dear Michael Missing you cause you're not around Missing you our lives have no sound The music has gone to live in heaven, The bread of life not risen,- is leaven, We've lost a voice who sang for all, He stood so proud, so quiet, so tall. The meekness in his too shy manner, Left the stage and no longer did matter, His voice matched in range by no other, His dance was copied, they could not cover, His words were spoken, they could not utter, His humanity they mocked but could not smother. The love we feel comes from the heart, We loved Dear Michael right from the start. This singing star placed in the sky, Is the "crescent moon" hanging on high We'll often see him sitting there, Kicking his feet, wind blowing in his hair. I promise Dear Michael, I'll do my best, I will not hate, I'll let you rest. We felt your love with every hit, You healed the world and all those in it. To the world "Entertainer" til the end, Those who loved you, we'll call you friend. So Dear Michael while watching from above, Please heal our pain and send us love. The world still grieves Dear Michael for you "soul", For without it we are no longer whole. Good night sweet prince we hold you dear,
Posted by Phyllis Patrick 07/24/09 4:56 PM
 
The loss of M.J. affected me pretty bad. Certain songs,comments, or scenes in movies that relate to him somehow sends me into an uncontrollable cry. I miss him a lot. I dreamed about him a month before he passed. Maybe it was God's way of warning me for what was about to come, but I refused to accept it. In the dream MJ walks up to me in a white suit, smiles at me and starts talking to me but I can't hear what he is saying, he gives me a hug and walks away, he stops looks back at me, waves and continues to walk away. I stand and watch until he disappears. And later I heard when you dream of someone trying to tell you something and you can't hear them it means you're not ready to hear what was said, and I definitely wasn't ready for this. I never got to meet him, never got to go to his concerts, never even got close enough to see his car drive away, But he still touched my life in a major way. He inspired me, and still does and I will miss him dearly.
Posted by Sunny 07/23/09 8:46 PM
 
Michael meant so much in alot of lives including mine, im only 18 but i remember all the short films he did in the 90's from scream with janet to earth song and eventually to the invincible era, and he did impact me... and my parents introduced me to the old things he did with the jackson 5 and the jacksons, and as well the era of off the wall, thriller,bad and dangerous... It was magic from the first time..i loved his music, his dances everything he did.. and what i loved most was that every1 could relate to this afro-american man from Gary, Indiana in a way that not alot of artists did before him. His music had no color, no religion, he was pure and honest and was a wonderful person and humantarian... The shortfilm of earth song as i said before made a big impact on me, and i truly belive that he only wanted good in this world.. But it's nt always easy being the most hunted man in the world and having an illness nt alot of ppl know about..RIP MJ
Posted by MARUU 07/23/09 2:53 PM
 
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Posted by Dxzpyqen 07/14/09 9:13 PM
 
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Posted by Uesbcdlg 07/14/09 2:47 PM
 
I will truly miss his music, his music will continue to touch our lives.
Posted by tisha 07/09/09 10:31 AM
 
I am only twelve so I really didn't grow up listening to him, but i sure do miss him.When i saw the news i felt a weird pit in my stomache. i couldn't explain it.i never felt that way when someone who i didnt know died. he had the biggest impact ever except for God of course. news reporters may want to look at the charges he had been blamed for and who knows what, but i see him as a man who cared and loved his family,friends, and adored hsi fans. He helped so much to bring races together. We all make mistakes. if not for mistakes what would we be? We would be no better because mistakes help shape who we are. and he was an icon,father,friend,entertainer,artist, and singer. We all love you michael! may you rest in peace knowing we miss.I hope you are in a better place. i pray that we all will be able to be strong. Especially his kids.
Posted by Heidi 07/09/09 1:16 AM



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