IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL JACKSON ...

The news shocked me, my family, and my friends. Michael Jackson, dead of a heart attack at 50. We'll all remember where we were and what we we were doing when we heard the sad news. We'll talk about our favorite MJ songs, albums .. and moments. In memory of Michael Jackson, I have two stand out moments I want to share with you.

The first, was when me and 3 of my friends (Laurel, Amber, and Marc) entered our annual air guitar competition in grade 9. I had a jheri curl ... so I wanted to do Michael Jackson's Beat It from the Thriller album (my all time fave!!!). I guess I had a slight advantage since I was the only black person in the school ... and then there was the jheri curl in my hair .... ha! We won hands down. We were the Air Guitar Champions that year. Did I mention we had a mini dance routine that included me doing the moon walk?

My second Michael Jackson moment happens regularly in the gym. My personal spin cycle workout is a THRILLER when Michael Jackson is playing in my ears. THE WAY HE MAKES ME FEEL on that last 20 minutes of my cardio is awesome. Even though Michael has done some OFF THE WALL things in the last few years of his life, I JUST CAN STOP LOVING YOU ... er, him. It's sad to know HE'S OUT OF MY LIFE. But by far these lyrics make me WANNA BE STARTIN' SOMETHIN' and gives me my second wind on the treadmill:

Lift Your Head Up High
And Scream Out To The World
I Know I Am Someone
And Let The Truth Unfurl
No One Can Hurt You Now
Because You Know What's True
Yes, I Believe In Me
So You Believe In You
Help Me Sing It ...

Rest in peace MJ ...