My Rememberance of Michael Jackson

As the world mourns the passing of Michael Jackson, I take the time to reflect on what impact his legacy and music had on my life.

Michael Jackson personified, for me, what music and entertainment is and should be. My first recollection of music is that of my mother playing songs like ABC, Stop, the Love You Save, and my favorite J5 song, Goody Girl. I would sit for hours listening to those songs over and over again trying to memorize the harmonies and duplicate the melodies.

Then when I was seven Thriller came out. That's when I started to notice how cute Michael was, and it was that year that I swore that I was going to be Mrs. Michael Jackson when I grew up. I remember drawing a mustache on Brooke Shields because she had the nerve to be in my man's poster which hung by my bed close enough for me to kiss every night.

From that point on, I began to gravitate to Michael Jackson's music. I loved the way he sang his songs with so much feeling, emotion and melody. That's always been what did for me musically; music and harmony. Everything about most of his songs was memorable to me because of the way he sang it, the arrangement of the lyrics, the add libs, everything. That's when I decided that I wanted to be a singer and began trying to write my own songs.

Human Nature, Lady of My Life, This Place Hotel and Can You Feel It for some reason were all songs that caught my ear, and Man in the Mirror always made me a little emotional right at the part when the choir begins to sing. Not to mention the countless other songs that I spent hours memorizing and mimicking, but never could seem to get quite right. Ah...the memories.

I smile when I think of the backdrop that Michael Jackson's music has contributed to my life and my aspirations to write because I wanted my songs to sound like his. I often dreamed of him one day singing a song that I'd write just for him. Then I think of his life and how troubled he must have been.

To live your life in the public eye is a burden that Michael Jackson was forced to bare from a very young age, and I truly believe that he dealt with it the best that he could. For all his quirks and perceived eccentricities, he was always true to himself. He did not pretend to be anyone but who he was.

Even though his passing was an unexpected shock to the world, we must all realize that death is the one thing that is promised to all. Beneath the surface of the superstar, Michael Jackson was a troubled man who was beautifully human. I can only hope and pray that he was at peace with God and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior before he passed so that his soul can have rest with Him in paradise.

And for all that he created that contributed to my life and the lives of those around me, I thank him.

Rest in peace, Mr. Jackson. You will never be forgotten.

A Note to Single Mothers on Father's Day

 This is an encouraging note for the single mothers out there on Father's Day. I know that it must be hard to be a single parent and God knows that I would never pretend to know what you go through on the daily trying to do it all alone, because I know how difficult it is to do it with 2 parents in the household. But in the case of the single mother who has a baby daddy who actually takes the time to spend time with, care for, and be a father to their children...please don't play vindictive games with the kids.

Don't use the child to "whip" the father for past wrongs, punish him for not being with you, finding someone new, get more money or get back at him for being happy without you. It's not right. Your child should not have to be deprived of a father because your feelings are hurt, because guess what? You are not only hurting that man, you are destroying your child. Children need their fathers! Little girls develop much of their self-esteem and perception of themselves through their relationship with their father. Little boys pattern who they aspire to be after their fathers; and don't get it twisted...a woman can not teach a boy to be a man. Try as she might, she will fall short somewhere.

It breaks my heart to see how many men close to me suffer in these types of situations when it is so unnecessary. If you have a child with someone, you have to learn to put your differences aside for the sake of your children. They didn't ask to be here so don't make their lives miserable because you feel that you have a point to get across. You may not think that they notice, but trust me they do.

 Ladies, I know the load is often heavy so don't make yours harder than it has to be; if your baby's daddy wants to be a father--then let him. Men cry too and they love their kids just like we mother's do. With all the dead-beat loser dads populating the Earth, real dads need to be celebrated...not broken down and discouraged.

So keep that in mind this Father's Day season and give that guy a call and let him know that all his good efforts have not been in vain. Heck...there's still time to wish him a Happy Father's Day and really mean it.

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