I don't know about you, but Thriller had to be the most-played album (yes, album) at my house. I got it for Christmas, seems like 4th grade or so, and absolutely wore the vinyl out on that record. I remember nearly all the words to the songs and am still secretly thrilled when an artist samples one of those songs, as I know that they, like me, were similarly influenced by the artist that was Michael Jackson.
It's funny, though, that the first thoughts I had after hearing news of his death (tonight, around 5:30 at Pinchers, a local restaurant) weren't of him. They were of a friend of mine, long since passed. Colleen.
Yes, that's her real name, and she and I were as close of friends as one could get in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. We gradually drifted apart because of differing interests (she was musically gifted [to say the least] while I concentrated on sports) and differing groups of friends. We remained friends, although never as close as we once were.
The year Thriller came out though, we were the best of friends. Sisters in spirit, sisters in heart. We spent hours listening to it up in her room at the farmhouse she grew up in. I remember lying there, on her old wooden floor, just playing that record over and over as we talked about everything under the sun.
Whenever I've heard Thriller since, I've thought of her.
She's been gone now, 12 years this July. If there is anything I've learned from losing her, it is this: there isn't a day that you are guaranteed. Make the most of your life. Live.
RIP Michael. I'll miss your music. You were quite the artist.
And Colleen, wherever you are ... I'm thinking of you. Still miss you.
1 comment:
That absolutely brought tears to my eyes...I miss her so much. I just can't imagine how close we'd all be at this stage in our lives, had the worst not happened. I still can't believe we would have both been in aviation....*sigh
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