20 Years Later: Still Dreaming of Selena

In honor of Selena, I was prepared to walk down memory lane for this post, but reading an article from the Associated Press last night has prevented me from doing so. 20 years later, the Quintanilla family is still in pain. Her parents still miss "their baby", her siblings still miss their baby sister, and Chris Pérez still misses his wife--all understandably, of course. It's been said time and time again that losing a child something you never "get over" or even make peace with--especially when he or she was lost so tragically. Also, as mentioned in the linked article above, the Quintanilla family doesn't celebrate birthdays (or deaths) because they're Jehovah's Witnesses. I must also mention that the family runs The Selena Museum in Corpus Christi, so they're pretty much reminded of her (and her death) everyday.

With all of that said, I feel the need to keep my memorializing to a minimum. Tonight, I will quietly remember Selena by just listening to her music. What better way to remember her?

My prayers, my thoughts--all of my positive vibes are with Selena's family and friends.

 

Rest in Peace, Lauren Bacall

I was shocked and saddened to read the news of Ms. Lauren Bacall's passing. She was definitely one of my "Old Hollywood" (and general Hollywood) favorites.

I shared my thoughts on Ms. Bacall's passing on my Tumblr (here).

My thoughts, prayers, and positive vibes are with Ms. Bacall's family and her friends.


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Lauren Bacall on Aige Old Soul:

Top 30 Old Hollywood Beauties

Favorite Old Hollywood Costumes


Ms. Bacall will also be listed in an upcoming post on my personal style icons. Ironically, she was  the next person to be added on to what I have so far.

Five Years

Clip Art Best

It's been five years since The King of Pop Music passed away. My, has time flown by! I still remember where I was when the news broke. Actually, the news hadn't really "broken" yet--news outlets were still trying to figure out if news of Michael Jackson's death was true or a rumor. I can still hear the sound of my mom's "OH MY GOD" resonating from the first floor of our home to the top where I was. I can still see myself slowly walking down the stairs to see what was going on. I walked slowly because I could literally hear the shock in my mom's voice. There was no hint of a "pleasant surprise" in her voice at all.

I'm not sure how (and if I will be able to) I will be remembering Mr. Jackson today. Any MJ fans or stans with plans out there?

Rest in Peace, Maya Angelou

There is not one human being who can and will live on this earth forever, but I do believe that there are those few people that we never even think about losing. For me, Maya Angelou has been one of those people. I've been bombarded with the tweets, Instagram photos, quotes and everything else all morning. However, these past couple of hours or so, I've had some moments to sit still--to think--and to be honest, those few moments have left me with few words. It took awhile to sink in, but surely, it is beginning to sink in.


It is without a doubt that Ms. Angelou's absence on this earth is going to leave a huge space. I've mourned the loss of quite a few public figures, saying they'll never be forgotten--which is true--but the more I think, the more I just remember Dr. Maya Angelou, the more I realize just how great a force this woman was. In times of joy, in times of sadness--in new beginnings and the endings of life and eras, Maya Angelou has been THE person to call, so that she may shed her light on whatever occasion. That is power. Not material or some form of hierarchical power-- that is a gift. That is a spirit that is beyond this world.


This is all that I am able to express, for now. 

Thank you, Dr. Maya Angelou. 

My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

Rest in Peace, Shirley Temple Black

"Old Hollywood" is slipping further and further away from us with every breaking news report.

From Listal

I was genuinely shocked to wake up to the news of Shirley Temple Black's passing. I won't pretend to be a big fan whose seen all of her movies (I've always intended to), but I am, in fact, a fan of the girl who made millions of people happy during one of the United States' most dismal eras. I really love who she was in Hollywood--what she contributed as just a CHILD. Her presence will definitely be missed.

From PDX Retro

Rest in Peace, Shirley Temple Black

Happy 70th Birthday, Florence Ballard!

All of my love to the Ballard/Chapman family on this bittersweet, but notable and joyous day!

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.