Today is the 14th year without Michael Jackson walking our planet and this is the most difficult blog I have ever written to commemorate him as my mother, who was sick on and off for four months, after spending 42 years institutionalized after being left brain damaged by her second husband, took her last inhale on March 18, 2023. It’s only been three months and one week ago that my mother left her physical body.
I stop at the familiar gate entrance to Forest Lawn Glendale. My heart is heavy as I have been struggling with grief and sadness. Being at Forest Lawn surrounds me with the love for Michael Jackson and sharing my blog is my way of connecting with his fans across the world who can’t travel to Los Angeles for the anniversary of June 25.
The first friends I met at Forest Lawn Glendale were Siren and Brenda Jenkyns, who traveled from Canada to pay their respects to Michael. Siren showed me her water color paintings as well as her icon pieces. Siren takes the archetype of the tarot and paints her own version.
This tri-fold card was created by Constance Pierce, an art professor. Like myself and many of us who were unmistakably affected after Michael’s death, she was struck in the heart in 2009.
Joke Smelt traveled from the Netherlands to honor Michael. Her friend Krystal was a Michael Jackson fan and they used to travel to Los Angeles together. She got sick and died last year.
My heart was hurting when my mother was isolated due to covid, now because she is no longer physically here but if seeing these photos helps someone else, then today I have helped to spread love and kindness and that was truly the embodiment of who Michael Jackson was. He was a messenger of kindness and the most creative soul to have ever lived. These expressions of love and creativity give me faith and peace that he touched so many with not only his music but his beautiful, giving, caring heart. He is missed more than ever fourteen years later.
Blessings from Elon, Happy and Amanya Norway – Uganda family
This is Michael. Any guess who he is named after?
On October 7, 1969 Motown Records released “I Want You Back.” I was nine years old the first time I heard Michael Jackson’s falsetto voice singing this eventual number one song. All these decades later, I find it an honor to be an advocate of Michael Jackson. Michael was the embodiment of love, compassion, and forgiveness. Just like my mother.
Michael, we want you back.
