A lady said to me in the store the day after Michael Jackson’s death, “yesterday everybody hated him and called him a pedophile, today, everybody loves him…” Last night I saw that love.

A few blocks straight down the street from where I live, was a Michael Jackson celebration. Oh my! There were people everywhere! Young, old, middle aged, children walking, babies in strollers, white and black. (oddly enough, in this eclectic, ethnic rich, military community, those are the only two races I saw, and only a few of the latter). Of course they played a lot of his music but for about half of the social gathering they gave space for people to talk about their MJ memories and experiences. Amazing. The stories ranged from little kids three years old who got on stage and gave their thoughts on MJ and told how their parents taught them about Michael, to 60 year olds sharing highlights of growing up with the Jackson family. Some rubbed elbows with Joe Jackson. Some with Janet. One told of MJ millions dollar contribution to a prominent black college. If nothing else, the sport of people watching was enjoyable. Imagine… I am in the South – Georgia – with a group of MJ fans gathered in the summer heat dancing to the music. I’m sure you can picture the scantily clothed and all the other sights this type of functions draws. There were no dignitaries or city officials. There was a prominent pastor who came and gave the benediction but other than that, just people. Regular Joe Blows that loved Michael.

One lady danced like she was being paid! I think she danced from the first note of the first song until the last note of the last song. I was astonished and overly entertained. In fact, I was so astonished that I couldn’t help but video her over and over with my cell phone, 30 seconds at a time. I would have shared one of those videos with you but unfortunately and unbeknownst to me, my sound was turned down!!! It just isn’t the same without the music. I’m so sorry I couldn’t share that with you, I know you would have been just as astonished and entertained as I was!

At the end, they gave us candles to light and say a prayer for Michael. For Michael? I was a bit confused. Michael is gone. I thought surely he would add in, say a prayer for the family but he didn’t. He just kept saying, say a prayer for Michael. They had 600 to 700 candles and ran out. Their eyeball guesstimation was that there were 1500 people in attendance. And did I mention there was another celebration going on simultaneously a few blocks away? Uh huh. Yesterday was Michael Jackson day in Fort Benning/Columbus, GA!

To be honest, I was somewhat out of my comfort zone. Typically I don’t go to functions of that nature. But it was just down the street, I was curious, I knew I was going to share this with you and I wanted to tell you all about it, so I stayed until the end. But as I stood there among the people I thought about my biggest hero and wondered, would the people come out in droves like this if they said, come let’s celebrate the life of Jesus? Doubt it.

Holla back…