Yesterday was a very sad day — a little part of my childhood died with this news. I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon running frantic around the office as we prepared this story, with full anticipation to crash our sites. After that part was all done, I headed home. When I got there, I saw my very first vinyl that mom ever bought me sitting on top of my bookshelf staring back at me; a flood of childhood memories came back. I pulled it off the shelf and held it in my hands, and as I stared at that Thriller album in mourning, I became overwhelmed with sadness. I look at that album everyday and always give it a little smile, but since yesterday I now look at it with longing for that little piece of my memory and that part of me that grew up with Michael Jackson as part of my youth. I am reminded of being with my friends and putting on our own rendition of Thriller, dancing around at slumber parties to his music. Even as an adult, I can’t hear “Beat It” without immediately breaking into the dance. We all know he had issues that are not acceptable, but as a musician that had created such strong memories in many of us, and for me they won’t be forgotten.
