Rest in Peace MJ

I was never a HUGE Michael Jackson fan although I liked his music and still do today (Smooth Criminal is an AWESOME song and the video...wow). I didn't have posters of him taped up to the walls (that space was reserved for Duran Duran, the Police and U2) but I remember heading over to the tv to see the debut of the Thriller video.

Michael Jackson and I are from the same place. He was from Gary, I was from Hammond. A few miles apart and all steel mills and refineries. His dad worked at the mills; my grandfathers, uncles and even my dad for a while did too. That is what you did when you were from "the region". I left for NC when I was 8. I think MJ left for CA when he was 9. I don't know why I felt it important to say that. I didn't know him-obviously. But I am proud to be from the Midwest, maybe he was too? Anyway...

I have heard all the stories of all the weirdness and all the scandal-how could you not? Do I believe it all? No, not all of it. Do I think he had some problems...that is an understatement. but of all the bad stuff that has been said, true or not, there is one thing that I always go back to. His children. And if you saw his daughter Paris at the memorial you can see how much they loved and adored him. And that is how it should be. He was obviously a devoted, caring, involved father. And they loved him. And that to me is what ought to be remembered right now. Was he a bad guy? Honestly, I don't know. I guess that is between God and MJ. But I came accross this in an online article:

"And all at once, Jackson wasn't the larger-than-life King of Pop, or Wacko Jacko the tabloid freak. He was a doting father who had left three adoring young children behind.
He was "Daddy."

And to me, that is it. Let his memory and his children be.