Remembering June 25, 2009

I sit in my family's living room writing this post. Across the room--in a chair--sits a poster that we have yet to unwrap. Printed at the bottom of the poster is:

29 August 1958--25 June 2009

There's a photo of Michael Jackson on it, but I have no idea what it looks like. We bought it the same year that he passed, but like I said, we have yet to open it. 

I remember June 25, 2009. My mom was on vacation from work, I was fresh out of school for summer break--it was also my best friend's birthday.

 I never missed The View when I was at home on some sort of break and I didn't miss it that day. I vividly remember Barbara Walters making the announcement that Farrah Fawcett was "in her final hours". Not too long after The View went off, I went online to see that Ms. Fawcett had in fact already passed away. I went through the next few hours of the day feeling bummed--I'd prayed and hoped for Ms. Fawcett to beat the cancer--I loathe cancer and of course, I was very disappointed that another icon, another person period, had lost their life to the ravaging disease. Just when I thought the day couldn't be anymore somber... 

I don't know how long it was after reading about Farrah Fawcett's passing, but I remember either already being upstairs, or heading up the stairs and hearing my mom exclaim "OH MY GOD!" Now, my mom had said "Oh my God" before, but never...never had I heard her say it the way that she said it in that moment. Even as I write this now, I can still hear the distinct sound of her voice saying that very common phrase. She didn't yell it, she didn't "cry out"--I really cannot describe how she said it, but I felt as though I were a gong and she'd just hit me with those words.

I tiptoed down the stairs and walked into the living room--looked at the TV. It was on BBC News actually (on PBS). A helicopter's view of a hospital--at the bottom of the screen, white letters on a red background--something along the lines of "Michael Jackson reported to be dead". I don't remember the exact words, but I remember the statement implied that no one was certain.

I remember running back up the stairs, my face burning, tears rolled down my face. I sobbed. Thinking back on it, it's strange that I cried so suddenly--knowing myself, I would have been too shocked to cry so quickly, but I think as soon as I saw the headline, I knew it was true, just like when Whitney passed. I prayed for this to be a rumor--a "false alarm", but...I knew. I also remember my mom coming up to rub my shoulders. 

I don't remember when it was confirmed--whose confirmation I watched, I don't remember too much of anything after my mom consoling me--I remember either my friends calling me or me calling my friends, but not too much more. 

I'm a huge Whitney Houston fan--and like I stated on my personal Tumblr, when it came to Whitney's death, although I had confidence in her and her health, there was always this lurking darkness--that fear that one day, I just might hear "that news" about Whitney. But when news of Michael Jackson's death broke three years before, it was like I had my back turned to a pitcher and turned around just in time to get hit dead in the face by a fast ball. Even after Michael Jackson had reached the peak of his career, he was still THE biggest (and most talked about) star, no PERSON of my time--probably all time! By the time I was born (1992), I don't think there was anyone on the planet who didn't know who Michael Jackson was. 

"Michael Jackson" and "dead" just didn't sound right in the same sentence. Not in 2009. It wouldn't even sound right in 2058. In the following weeks I found myself pacing around the house for no reason--not being able to sit still for too long. My body was still filled with shock. It took years for Michael Jackson's death to become a reality to me. Now, if it took me that long, I can't even begin to imagine what his family goes through everyday. 

With that said, I will wrap this up before I make myself cry.

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All of my love to The Jackson Family, not only on this particular date, but during this time where unfortunate things are being dealt with within the family.

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All photos obtained from Wikipedia.