What A Week...

Sometimes, a good string of music comes out in shuffle mode on my ipod and it's almost spiritual. Like the stars being in alignment. A few nights ago while I was out on my 50 minute speed walk, the best group of 'getaway' songs began to play and I lost myself in thought and other things, and I really needed it. 

This has been one of those weeks where a good stream of songs feels like an angel on my shoulder - it's been a disconcerting week.   The economy is still in limbo - leaning towards dreadful, it's close to record-breaking heat for June and a really great co-worker died unexpectedly over the weekend. I'm traveling for work, the husband is traveling for work and I'm feeling a little discombobulated - I really appreciated that ipod stretch.

Then, on Friday, a double-whammy - Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson both died on the same day - a cultural/emotional blow to anyone in my age range - and apparently many others given the relentless coverage of MJ on TV.  Each of them hold a place in my memory but honestly, Michael more than Farrah - I was always pretty sure that even if I got the Farrah haircut, I was never going to look remotely like her, so I never let it be an issue. 

Michael Jackson's music on the other hand, holds incredible memories for me. Given my unusual affinity for all music that is soul, jazz or Motown - the Jackson Five were favorites of mine from the first time I saw them.  I disco danced to them through high school and college, then got up in the middle of he night in the 80's to take care of babies while watching this new program called MTV... and amazing videos of Michael Jackson.  I continued to like him, tried to not be too judgmental through the weirdness, but that was hard sometimes to reconcile.

I used to make CD's for friends for Christmas and birthdays - and a couple of years ago I had put one of my favorite MJ songs, Rock With You, right in the middle of the CD.  I had one woman tell me she couldn't understand why I would put a Michael Jackson song on the CD considering what he has done. Wow, I was surprised.  I told her to hit 'forward' on her player when it came on... 

It is now Saturday night after his Thursday death and I wish we could just focus on his incredible music, not his peculiar ways. This is my favorite Michael, the way I like to remember him.  And on tomorrow's morning walk with my ipod - I'm hoping for something from Thriller.