Remembering Michael Jackson

An year ago, on this day, June 25th 2009, an SMS that conveyed MJ's death is one of the most unfortunate things happened to all MJ's fans...including me.  To me Michael Jackson is synonym to the western music in my growing years and to me that moment, all the controversies surrounding his life that is ever in spotlight vanished.   It was a moment of respect to the talent and the music he gave to this world.  Nothing else mattered.  His legal battles, his insecurities, his loneliness, his sleeplessness and his overall personality vanished. What remained is a flow of unconditional love in his lyrics and rhythm, a flow of unparalleled level of music and pop, and totally a flow of wave of loss, a feeling of someone who was close to you gone for ever.   I am sure most of the MJ fans would feel it this way.  Eternal.

After coming to California, Los Angeles, to me visiting his final resting place was on my list of things to do.  Now living just 2 miles away from Glendale Forest Lawn and getting a chance to drive through the Glendale avenue quite often, I look at the Cross on the top of the hill that has the FLG with due respect, for it is not just a final home to celebrities of Hollywood including Walt Disney, but now the final home for MJ, and that makes the difference.

One Saturday afternoon,  just drove through the FLG iron gates.  It was an amazing experience, a silence, a kind of reality sinking in, that it is the final destination for mankind. For lot many years, I liked looking at cemeteries and the kind of respect and command they have over people's life's.  That day, I could feel it. As we walked inside the Great Mausoleum, to view the last supper window, it was creepy feeling.  For a moment, surrounded by crypts of the famous and celebrities of the most cherished world,  and the beauty of the Forest lawn, drove a sense of divinity. 

The statues and glass paintings sent in a wave of life in death.  To me it looked like more of a place to celebrate the great lives than mourn for their ending. The best way to cherish any one's memory is to relive their lives in our memories and celebrating it.  To me, visiting forest lawns Glendale was like a transforming experience, awakening the soul's ardent search towards an eternal end.  The struggle for survival in between the two poles of life seemed  be meaningless..., including for that of Michael as he lays untouched in Holly Terrace. 

I know he is there.  Living in an eternal bliss.  Without his fans and family overwhelming him like they did when he was alive.  He is finally having his silent sleep, that no amount of medication, doctors, family , children, fans, friends could not bring in to him when he was alive.  Rest in Peace Michael, you need to now.

Glendale Forest Lawn have its own way of providing peace to his mourners... a chance to celebrate their King of Pop finally in peace.   The serenity, the nature, the mountains, the fountains, the Italian art, the big corridors, the dimmed lights of the arc windows and tall roofs bring in a kind of celebration to the lives that lived larger than life could contain.  

The best respect that can be paid would be not to tress pass into the areas restricted by the Forest Lawn administrators and leave them all in silence and privacy that they for sure deserve in death.   To many, the fitting tribute would be to pay a visit and leave behind the burden or heaviness of having lost someone who was dear to you all the time, for he entertained you and made you sway in his music.   But Michael, would have loved his fans pay him a visit, bring him the flowers he loved, and spread the message of his love. May be one day, his children will open the doors to his final resting place for the public to pay their respects.  Till then, leave him in peace:-)

Love you MJ, Miss your Music.....

For more interesting photographs and writeups on MJ and his final resting place, visit :http://lisaburks.typepad.com/gravehunting/michael-jackson/.  She did a great job by putting it all together....MJ's Fan club of Southern California.

The Funeral- A Man's Last Journey

A silent winter morning, the birds chipping at far, and the sun beams slowly getting out of its cheerful sleep. The shores of two rivers that intertwine in love and radiance of flowing together for a while like a couple in love reminds of a god's creation. I have not slept the night and lived my thoughts into the skies where I can see one beautiful star added to the sky the previous day. Besides the heaviness of heart that failed to register the fact of a dear one's loss, there emerged courage of a small girl in a silent town on the coastal winds. Having nested for years under the protective arms of a beautiful parenthood and having no exposure to the realities of the world outside my own happy kingdom, there were silent tears unshed. Holding back the moments of despair and truth, the audacity of nature and tranquility of facts that surround an unexpected moment of grief in life. Trust of a relationship, that left and a soul that is slowly tipped away from my fingers of love, all I can ask in that moment was courage.
With the frighten eyes watching my every move, I know for sure, I have a responsibility beyond imagination of those starring at me. I was clear. I was not lost in the moment that was unpredictable. Nothing emerged in my heart than the fact that I have to shoulder the pain of my bereaving family, stand tall amidst adversity of life that surprisingly kissed me at the moment. Just for a moment, I escaped from the vicinity of those frightful eyes around me. All I did was to find a solace leaning on the shoulder of my friend who stood by me throughout. Heaviness subdued and a sense of acceptance started to creep in as I decided to take stock of the situation. All that was left in the world around me for a moment is the loss of the only man in the family. My Dad. Having women who were vulnerable, scared to face life at that day and my siblings confused and inconsolable.
Ages after I look back to that old memory of lifting the pyre fire, the shivering of the little fingers that took charge of the day. As my dad got laid to rest, and the flames of his cremation rose, I looked into the fact of life. Nothing. It starts in vacuum and ends in one. The quest in between is an insurgence of the materialistic world. Nothing impresses me today for real. Fame, Money, Success, Happiness, Sorrow, and every other emotion is just a small phase in life. Nothing is constant. Change is the only constant thing in life. Acceptance of this reality is tough, but for those who do, life becomes easy. Meaningful and real. I did not cry for 4 days. My friend got scared of the kind of reactions a teen was showing on her dad's last journey. He pulled me to the graveyard, just to show me the ashes of the person who was real, who was there, and who was just there for me. I cried.
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Seeing Paris Jackson, ending up in tears in her dad's memorial service, only reminds, that one day this little one will look back at life, and re-live the dreams of the man who loved her than anyone else could do.
A real tribute to the fathers of this world who silently dream the dreams of their children
Love you Dad!
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Miss you Micheal Jackson

Since the morning of 25th June 2009, I have been under a kind of a writer's block...for there are mixed emotions from the time I saw Reena's SMS about MJ's death. Micheal had been part of my teenage and very much there creating a wave of hope on where the lyrics can take a person one day.. Every song he sang had an in depth meaning, a message, ardent devotion, an intricate human emotion. Every move had shown what a talent can achieve, vibrate the very essence of humanity, bring in a bondage and many things beyond expression. Those were the days when MTv mania was strong and thanks to my friend Vinodhini who introduced me to MJ's mystical world of music.

What else could be a testimony of my passion for his lyrics and songs, as a poet myself and an ardent music lover,, that brought me back to US a day before his final journey. Micheal Jackson. He is no more..But his legendary music will mystically entertain generations to come. A life more controversial, trails and trauma, hurt and disguise is part of any celebrity life. Beyond this layer of frustration and agony, pain and loneliness, there was an innocent soul ardently searching for care and love. Wanting to give back love beyond imagination, back to the world. And to his children. Of course he did do it with grace. Here is my tribute to MJ- the Planet's most best entertainer during his times:-)

You are beyond joy and sorrow

Have left the love for tomorrow

You shined like an unknown star

and travelled sadly to shores afar

MJ is not just an singer's name

its the synonym for real talent and fame

You have been an inspiration

bringing in an in depth passion

Of bringing back childhood that's lost

making every day relive the golden past

Agony of getting subjected to reality

of the vulnerable moments in atrocity

beyond all the gulf of pain and tears

stood the shining star with inner fears

You are just not gone

For with every song, you are reborn

You are Just what you are!

Incredible Micheal Jackson!

The son of God, in his own way!

No one is perfect, and who am I

to judge your beyond the curtains eye

Just love what you gave to the world

your love and peace to heal the World!!!

Thank you Micheal for the music you gave to this world that will live for ever!!!