Michael Jackson...memories of Pop Star's Death & the "Wake" at UCLA!

After gulping down the last tasty morsel of lunch, I headed towards the Research Library on the campus at UCLA on June 25th.

Once I stepped outside the cafeteria, I immediately spied a helicopter buzzing overhead.

Two teenage girls dashed by and were chatting each other up excitedly.

I managed to overhear a snippet of the conversation.

"I hear that Michael Jackson is in that helicopter and that he overdosed," one of the pretty students exclaimed in shock.

Say what?

I was knocked out by the news.

At this juncture, I tore up the front steps of the library and plunked myself down at the nearest computer terminal just inside the building to the left of the main foyer.

I began to conduct a search on Jackson and possible alerts on his health.

Nada!

Were the major news outlets afraid that the rumors were all a hoax?

Or, were they simply in the dark about the overdose, I wondered.

Now, the frenzy at UCLA was reaching a fever pitch.

"Michael Jackson may be dead," one conjectured, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Then - a few minutes later - one of my inside sources revealed the awful truth.

"Michael Jackson overdosed and was rushed to the hospital."

I immediately logged into "The Tattler" at the Blogger web site and proceeded to pen a post (which I summarily published a scant few seconds later).

On the heels of publishing the news alert, I proceeded to "tweet" a flash about the shocking news on Twitter.

Within minutes, the speculation about Jackson's untimely demise was streaking around the blogosphere at break-neck speed.

Then, I spied a tweet from TMZ, confirming that Jackson had - indeed - passed to spirit.

So - I posted an update on "The Tattler" - and followed up with another tweet.

Post:  06/25

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/06/michael-jacksondead-50-re-post.html

After scanning a few news releases which were flooding in from major media outlets around the world, I packed up my briefcase and strolled outside.

I took a shortcut across campus and trotted down to the UCLA Medical Facility where dozens of reporters, paparazzi, and TV crews were now parking their vehicles haphazardly along both sides of the street and scrambling up the front steps of the hospital.

By now, hundreds of Jackson fans - lookie-loos, too - were swarming into the tiny square to take up a vigil for the much-loved Pop Star.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the hospital attempted to control the ensuing chaos, by updating the media every few minutes or so about the specifics as the events unfolded before our eyes.

At long last, it was also announced that a doctor in the employ of UCLA (and a member of the Jackson family) would be issuing statements shortly.

Which they did.

There was a stunned silence when it was confirmed that the beloved King of Pop was dead.

Then, something phenomenal happened.

Fans hoisted up portable CD players - which began to ground out the Pop Star's hits - as they began to dance and make merry with each other.

The once-sad gathering suddenly became a celebration of the "thriller's" life!

Essentially, the evening turned into a magical uplifting wake!

Post:  06/25/2009

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/06/michael-jacksonfans-celebrate-life-of.html

In sum?

It was a remarkable memorable day - one that I shall cherish - the rest of my own short sweet life!
Amen!

http://www.thetattler.biz


 

Michael Jackson..."wake" celebrates the life & music of Pop Icon! UCLA unlikely host...

Michael, what happened?

This morning's papers were awash with news about Michael Jackson in the wake of his unexpected death yesterday afternoon at the UCLA Medical facility in Westwood (CA).

Many of the insightful detailed reports echoed each other.

There were eye-witness accounts of mourning fans, thoughts on what amounts to a colossal loss to the creative end of the music industry, reports on weepy candle-light vigils, and up-close and personal interviews with contemporaries who sang the Pop Icon's praises now that he has departed from this mortal coil and passed into spirit.

From where I stood, however, the overwhelming news event smacked more of a celebration of Michael's life & music.

A "wake", if you like.

Indeed, in a mass turn-out in front of the UCLA Medical facility late yesterday afternoon and early into the evening, fans demonstrated their love for a performer who was many things to many different people.

Yes, Jackson was a musical genius, an original given to unexplained excesses, a talented artist prone to self-destruct at any moment, you name it.

Once the news swept out from the inner recesses of the UCLA medical facility that doctors were desperately trying to work their magic to restore life to a frail shell of a human being that was fast expiring - fans descended on the well-manicured courtyard outside the hospital - and began their vigil.

But, what I beheld before me was not a teary-eyed assembly of mourners, grief-stricken beyond comprehension - but rather - a joyous throng of devoted fans who chose to celebrate his life and music the best way they fathomed they could.

The spirited music-lovers mimicked his style (many turned out with gloved hand, signature Fedora-style hat, outfitted in eye-catching outerwear festooned with sequins that glittered like stardust in the mid-afternoon sun), as they sang out the catchy - at times tricky - arrangement of notes and words of a dozen or so of his memorable hits.

Occasionally, emotions took hold - at which point a handful of high-spirited fans - broke into a contagious dance that continued on into dusk.

When the familiar strains of "Thriller" hit the air, the mood shifted gear and the fans went into a wild frenzy.

Young tots, hip teens - even older snazzily-dressed Jackson fans - let loose and danced individually and in pairs (even trios, at times) - inside a "magic circle" like moths drawn to a flame.

At one point, a beaming Afro-American male spied my own lithe bod gyrating to the unique beat of the mega hit from yesteryear and was inclined to give me a nudge.

"Go on, man. Get in there. It's your turn."

Hesitant, but willing nonetheless (dancing is my first love), I stepped into the glare of the spotlight at the heart of the hypnotic beat of the pop hit and danced up a storm.

A roar went up from the crowd.

"That was the beauty of it," I thought to myself.

This "wake" was all inclusive.

At this point, for me anyway, the lines blurred somewhat.

One moment, I was logging the "historical event" from a reporter's point of view for posterity; in the next, I was swept up, across a great divide.

All the walls came tumbling down as I relaxed into the warm and fuzzy moment.

The world shifted.

I was transformed from an unbiased commentator on the sidelines into a bona fide fan capable of appreciating the remarkable compositions of a uniquely gifted musician who had just passed into spirit before his time.

Even still, Michael Jackson's rich legacy of sound - pure in it's creative genius - shall march on.

Such was the potent power of the Prince of Pop's musical gifts.

http://www.julianayrs.com