A Message to my Boys about Michael Jackson

Jonas and Jules,

Tonight we sat around the dinner table listening to a Michael Jackson Greatest Hits album on the iPod.  We listen to music every night while we eat dinner. It's what we do.

Every night, Jules dances jovially in his little chair while shoving food into his mouth.  And every night, Jonas you say "Who's this?" each time a new song comes on the radio, as if you're attempting to catalogue them in your head, and suprisingly, your beautiful little brain is doing a great job.  Daddy and I always tell you what band is currently playing, even if it seems like you're too young to remember such things, because you always surprise us.  You know The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Green Day, and for some reason the Talking Heads. 

Tonight you asked "Who's this?" and the answer was "Michael Jackson."  We were listening, in mourning, because Michael died suddenly yesterday. 

The first record that either me or your daddy ever owned was Michael Jackson's "Thriller."  I hope that by the time you are old enough to read this, you already know all the lyrics to most of these songs.  This man's artistry was important for many genres of music. He transcended culture, race, and gender and changed the world as we know it.

I always wondered how my family felt or reacted to the news of John F. Kennedy's death, or Elvis's death, or John Lennon's death.  I don't know how they felt, but I want you to know that when Michael Jackson died, our hearts hang heavy.  We are saddened by our music community's loss. 

So we celebrated his music, with you, at the dinner table.  And in that moment, I could see by the sheer enjoyment on your faces that Michael's music will live for generations after we are all gone.  Candidly speaking, children... this moment sucks.  I suspect we'll be playing MJ on the iPod for a good solid week around these parts.

Comments

[Jen]

Same here...did a lot of dancing yesterday. Well said (as usual).

[Melodie]

I just played this for my 4 yo daughter. I got a little choked up remembering how much I loved Micheal Jackson when I was a kid. I had his posters all over my bedroom wall. I wanted to marry him...makes me laugh now. I even had the one glove and my best friend had a Thriller jacket. I wore MJ butons all over my jean jacket and my dad even took me to see him and his brothers in the Jackson Victory tour in 1984.
My daughter broke me out of my moment of mourning when she said "mommy, is that a man or a woman? A man? Well, he sounds like a lady!"

[TheFeministBreeder]

HAAAAAA haa ha hah ahaaha... Out of the mouths of babes.........

[Birth_Lactation/ StorkStories]

I love this so much I am crying!!! When I saw the title in my Google reader, I couldn't wait to read it. I so wanted to somehow impart to my children, my grandson, how it feels to loose such a legacy. I remember where I was when JFK was killed..4th grade in Gym class...we were all sent home early. I remember where I was when I learned about Elvis..heard it on the radio driving my VW bug into a gas station... I remember where I was when I heard about John Lennon and Bobby Kennedy. I was just as shocked about Princess Diana. These losses are just too hard for some to understand if you didn't live through your life with their presence, their message or their music helping to shape your soul. I loved Michael Jackson. I never had any crush on him, I was too old but I loved how my son loved him. We watched this 25th anniversary of Motown together. Billie Jean is my all time favorite. My next favorite was "We are the World"
Thank you for this.. I know your children will always know how special he was.