Growing up with MJ and other musings...

When I found out that Ed McMahon had passed on Wednesday night I was saddened but not suprised. I was a little girl when Ed McMahon was rolling out "Heeeeeeere's Johnny" and a teen/young adult while he toted Star Search (way better than Idol in my opinion but that's for another blog). The point is I was young when he was not and so, his time had come. Expected. Farrah's death on Thursday morning also sad, but she had been sooo sick for so long, again, expected. And then there is Michael. Crazy crazy MJ. I was shocked, the man was only 50. Wow, three big celebs in a row, that kind of thing.

Then, as I was telling Kieran about it, it sunk in. I have to admit, I cried. Now I know those of you who know me well will laugh and say I cry at the drop of a hat. I may be a little over empathetic...but as I play around and digest this news, and peoples reactions, and why I would shed tears for a man who didn't know me from Adam, and was often quite certifiable I realized something.

It wasn't really his death I was mourning. It was more of a reminder of my own life and experiences. Michael Jackson, his music, his moves, even his mistakes were woven into the fabric of my life and many many others in inexplicable ways. Well, I suppose that could be explained away because I grew up in a media generation and MJ was clearly the most powerful media machine of the 80's and into the 90's.

I can give you a direct, distinct memory tied to pretty much any Michael Jackson song you name. I was watching the Jackson Five cartoon when I was 6. Couldn't understand why my older sisters wouldn't let me watch "Ben" when the song was so sweet. I left an 8th grade dance singing Shake Your Body (down to the ground)and had an immediate crush on Mike Gavin when he took over and sang the chorus. Living in So Cal in '80 meant Living "Off the Wall" meant a couple of different things to me. (Vans also used this as their slogan at the time, I believe they were unrelated). My decision to go into Motion Picture and Video Production as a major was reinforced dramatically after watching MJ's and John Landis' Thriller video. MJ went on to make over 30 music videos while I only created one...wah, wah...It goes on and on- good and bad.

The funniest thing is that Pete Wentz Twittered the perfect sentiment for this phenomenom yesterday afternoon ( I can't believe I'm quoting a Fall Out Boy Tweet). He said "I have never felt this before in my life. I could measure my childhood 2 now on an mj growth chart. if this is true. Rip. The last legend."

That pretty much says it all.