When Michael passed away, we weren’t born yet. Urban Mogul-Life was still a twinkle in the eye. But we felt pain far, far, away, and we waited for our moment to come when we can pay our respects to  the genius that was The King of Pop, Rock, Soul, R&B, etc. Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson.

It is hard to even begin a post like this because I don’t know where to start. Mike meant many things to many people, good and unfortunately bad. But when you take away all of the hoopla, all you have left is the voice. Arguably the greatest voice of all time. From the first time we heard it on I Want You Back to Butterflies, we knew that this voice was a gift from above. Not many people can sing as a child AND as an adult, Mike could. He was able to reinvent his voice as he got older, and use it as an instrument. When Michael sung, it sounded as smooth as butter melting on hotcakes. Smooth. Not many others could touch it.

Scoop Jackson pointed out that we must not let his legacy be reduced to one moment. He was larger than Thriller. If it was only Thriller, than Mike would be no bigger than Bobby Brown. (Not to take anything from Bob, but Mike had plenty of “Don’t Be Cruel’s”)

During the madness that followed the death of MJ, I ran across a writing by ?uest, where he detailed his top Michael memories. For this post I decided to write my top Michael moments.

My Personal Top Michael Jackson Moments…..

1. I remember looking through a collection of albums and running across Destiny.  I still can recall the cover art and scared thoughts about what the music must sound like! I was only about 4 at the time and I remember being a little shook.
2. I remember opening up the cover looking for the vinyl, however it was missing! All I could do was read the song titles and imagine how the songs sounded.
3. I remember watching the Wiz on TV and connecting you with one of the Jacksons that I saw on the cover of “Destiny”.
4. I remember playing in kindergarten with a friend who said she was Diana Ross, Corey was Billy Dee Williams, and I was Michael Jackson.
5. I remember being upset because I wanted to be Billy Dee instead!
6. I remember seeing the “Blame It on the Boogie” video and once again making a connection to the scary album “Destiny”.
7. I remember seeing the “ Don’t Stop…” video and wondering where were all of the brothers? And how did they make more than one Michael Jackson?
8. I remember seeing the afro-less Michael Jackson in the “Rock with You” video all glittered out.
9. I remember seeing the “Can You Feel It” video and wondering what was going on in this video?
10. I remember being dragged to a talent show at my mother’s school and seeing a kid do a Michael Jackson routine on the stage. At that moment my life was changed forever.
11. I remember the very next day my mother bringing home the “Thriller” album. I finally had a Michael Jackson record!
12. I remember playing that album day in and day out. Learning every little “hee-hee” and “who-who” that the record had to offer.
13. I remember seeing the “Billie Jean“ wondering how did they make the sidewalk light up as he walked down the street?
14. I remember watching Motown 25 with my mother and being amazed at the performance of the Jacksons and that pointing dance step that they did all in a line.
15. I remember the “Billie Jean” performance!
16. I remember begging my mother for anything Michael Jackson related.
17. I remember her coming home with the Jackson Five greatest hits album with the group looking like they were a painting.
18. I remember discovering “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “Mama’s Pearl”, “The Love You Save”, “I’ll Be There”, “Maybe Tomorrow”, etc….
19. I remember that still being not enough.
20. I remember getting the K-Tel greatest hits version with “Ben”, and “Got To Be There” on it.
21. I remember getting my first pair of penny loafers and trying out the moonwalk for the first time.
22. I remember practicing the dance steps in front of a mirror perfecting every spin and toe move.
23. I remember performing my “Billie Jean” routine for my mother and her friends on Friday nights as half-time entertainment from their card games.
24. I remember going to neighborhood record shop and finally getting the “Destiny” album and listening to the songs from the scary album.
25. I remember getting the Jacksons Live album and having my G.I. Joes action figures sing along as if they were giving the concert.
26. I remember watching the “Thriller” video for the first time and saying to myself, “WTF”?
27. I remember watching the American Music Awards and seeing Michael in his red sequence military jacket and black glove.
28. I remember Diana Ross getting Michael to do a little dance step when he accepted one of his many awards.
29. I remember watching the Grammy Awards about a month later and seeing Michael rack up award after award.
30. I remember getting the bootleg “Beat It” jacket.
31. I remember not being able to wear it to school the next day.
32. I remember going to the Palace and hearing “Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming” with Jermaine for the first time.
33. I remember having to buy Jermaine Jackson’s album because “Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming” wasn’t released as a single.
34. I remember hearing Rockwell’s song “Somebody’s Watching Me”
35. I remember seeing the video and being disappointed that Michael and Jermaine weren’t in the video.
36. I remember the buttons, books, posters, shoestrings, stickers, etc……
37. I remember seeing the video “Say Say Say” and waiting to see Latoya Jackson in it.
38. I remember hearing the news that Michael was burned up making a Pepsi commercial.
39. I remember seeing the picture in the newspaper with Michael’s face wrapped in bandages still wearing the glove.
40. I remember the Pepsi commercial with Alfonso and wishing I was there in his spot. Because after all, I felt I could moonwalk better than him.
41. I remember going over a friend’s house to watch “Thriller” on VHS.
42. I remember being upset that the Victory Tour was not coming to Milwaukee.
43. I remember hearing “State of Shock” in New Orleans for the first time.
44. I also remember that same summer hearing “Farewell My Summer Love.

I could go on forever and ever. But I decided to stop here. This post is for the REAL Michael Jackson fans. Those of us who have memories before the world called him Wacko Jacko. This is post is for us.

But let’s stop here. Thank you Michael. We miss ya!