Pearly Gates at Forest Lawn
On August 29th, Michael Jackson will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn in the "Great Mausoleum", in the Holly Terrace where Hollywood's legendary greats have gone before him - Carole Lombarde, Jean Harlowe, and Clark Gable - to name a few.
Not unlike an Egyptian King of yesterdyear, the Prince of Pop's tomb will be a sumptuous one decorated with bronzes of American Icons, pricey one-of-a-kind sculptures, and even a stained-glass window etched with an image of the Last Supper.
If we're to believe the scriptures, it is doubtful that God will be impressed.
But, what a send off!
Forest Lawn itself is not your typical "graveyard".
When the "great park" was designed, manager Hubert Eaton made a sacred pledge that Forest Lawn would be devoid of misshapen monuments and the customary trinkets symbolizing earthly departures - and in their place instead - towering trees would tickle the sky, tastefully-decorated water fountains wax poetic in the gentle wind , and noble memorials whisper about the dawning of man.
You got it!
There aren't any maps to shed precious light for the harried souvenir hunter or two who may have lost their way.
Indeed!
Unlike other ceremonious dumping grounds (Forever Hollywood, for instance, where lookie-loo's are allowed on the grounds to track down the plots of contented residents such as Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. & Tyrone Power) boisterous thrill-seekers in search of elusive Jackson will be sooshed away.
And perish the thought of surreptiously snatching up a nugget of stone from the headstone, to round-out a collecton of morbid memorablia which may include a Jim Morrison souvenir spirited away from the rock star's Paris digs.
According to a tour guide, it's iffy, in view of the fact management protects the celebrities there as if they were as sacred and rare as the Dead Sea Scrolls.
"The Great Mausoleum is the Holy Grail of grave hunters," the soft-spoken independent businessan whispered for fear he may be heard.
"The rooms are like mazes, almost like Escher drawings. There are cameras throughout it, and if you are just wandering about, they (?) will find you and kick you out," he warned.
As to "D"-day, cemetery officials are cool, calm, and collected.
After all, they aren't anticipating any crushing crowds, or expecting any delirious fans to throw themselves onto the Jackson casket (as a few of the broken-hearted were inclined to do at Rudolph Valentino's high-profile send off decades ago (we have the same birthday, by the way, May 6th).
Because the funeral is on private property, Sgt. Tom Lorenz (Glendale Police Department) underscored that the service would not be open to the public.
I expect a handful may sneak in the night before in a last-ditch effort to get a wee peak at the proceedings, before they're scouted down and tossed out on their sorry a**es.
Alas, fame is not fleeting at all, is it?
Finally, in closing, I thought I would share this lovely quote I stumbled on today because it is appropriate under the circumstances.
“We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”
Michael's legacy of music says it all.
Jackson companion beckons from beyond the grave!
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