The Sendoff

To view pictures of the memorial booklet click HERE

Wow...all I can say is wow. Today was one of the most beautiful memorial services I ever had the opportunity to watch. Today, the life of Michael Jackson was celebrated at the Staples Center in LA as I reported earlier today. It was a beautiful well-put together service, and I'm happy that I got the chance to watch it (Well, really I took the chance LOL I was at work, but yeah my afternoon was Michael based).

It started out grandly. Michael came out in style in his golden casket escorted by his brothers as a choir sang, "Soon and Very Soon, We Are Going To See the King." As his casket rolled across the front of the stage, people yelled and clapped for the King of Pop. And I couldn't help but let a few tears fall.

The tributes were amazing. Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and Mariah Carey sang beautifully. Queen Latifah spoke as well. Jennifer Hudson (beautiful as ever, and it's about her time on that baby ain't it?! LOL) sang my favorite song by Michael "Will You Be There" and killed it. Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, and Magic Johnson gave their favorite memories about Michael, and it was so touching. Mr. Gordy called him "the greatest entertainer that ever lived." And it's true.

A touching moment for me, when I actually broke down and full out cried during the memorial, was when Usher sang "Gone Too Soon." He struggled toward the end to keep it together, and the Jackson clan came and comforted him. I just cried and cried, because it finally hit me, just how I knew it would, that he was no longer on this earth. Honestly, I feel like Michael really was gone too soon. It seems like he had so much more to give, and it just wasn't his time, but God makes no mistakes, and that was said throughout the service. He is still present in spirit of course, but it's still sad.

Another touching moment was Rev. Al Sharpton's eulogy. He spoke the truth about Michael. I remember this quote from him that he said directly to Michael's children: "There was nothin strange about your daddy. It was strange what he had to deal with. But he dealt with it!" He still went through it. Think about it. All the humiliation and rumors, the FALSE cases from people trying to get some money. He had to go through all of that. Marlon spoke on it toward the end of the service, as he broke down in tears. He said that nobody should have had to deal with all of that, and maybe now they will leave him alone. But honestly, I think it's all just beginning, unfortunately. That's ok, though. Haters are great, but you know what? The good ALWAYS outweighs the bad! And Michael definitely has more fans than haters!

Probably the moment where I cried the most was at the end when little Paris spoke. Hands down, MOST EMOTIONAL MOMENT OF THE MEMORIAL! She spoke briefly, surrounded by her brothers and other members of the family, before breaking down into tears: "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just want to say I love him so much." And then she turned to Janet for comfort. I was just done. Lost for words. It was so sad.

Like I've said several times before, Michael is no longer here physically, but as long as he is remembered and celebrated, he will never be gone. His music, his humanitarianism, his legacy, it's all just too big. And to my generation, we have to pass on his music to our kids, so that they could pass it on to their kids, and so on and so forth. The name MICHAEL JACKSON will never die!

Michael, we miss you. We love you. You are and always will be the King of Pop, or, as Berry Gordy more appropriately put it, THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER THAT EVER LIVED! Take your rest, and make sure you have a big concert ready for us in heaven!!!

PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté