Last evening, Krl surrendered the TV remote to me. True to my gender I did what was expected, I surfed.

I went through a lot of channels before I ran across "E".

They had a Michael Jackson life story broadcasting. It was riveting.

It was fun seeing the Jackson Five, back when they were small. Even then Michael was the "center" and quite the little showman. It is amazing we didn't see how much talent was trapped inside that small child's body! That might be the reason he had all those amazing dance moves, all the talent was trying to get out.

I suppose a lot of the Jackson's early success was attributable to their "perfect" harmony, something siblings seem to share.

There have been reports of strict discipline by Joe, the father of the group. Other points of interest included Michael's preference to what he had grown up with trying to crowd into a motel room with two beds.

I don't guess I really realized how young he was and how quickly he rose to fame. He was only fourteen when he suffered the scalp burns in the Pepsi commercial after the Jackson's were hired as spokespeople for the brand.

At seventeen, he tried to go out on his own, only to have that plan nixed by his mother. I wonder if there were other problems within the family, or if Michael simply felt he was being held back. I wonder if he felt like he was the meal ticket for the group or if they felt if not for him "they" might be the headliner. I also wonder if he had included them as writers, producers, or other supportive roles, he might have surrounded himself with a core that was more dedicated to his "real" well being.

Upon his embarking on a solo career, his teaming with Quincy Jones was magical, taking MJ to the number one recording artist in the world. On many recordings, he sang the lead, and then dubbed multiple tracks doing the back up. In addition to this he became the first artist to reach number one having written every song on the album.

Video was just coming of age, in fact MJ's first video was filmed by a handheld camera and some unlucky cameraman trying to stay in front of the performer.

At the time Quincy Jones and MJ parted company, Michael had been working in a studio right next to where he and Quincy had shared one. By then Michael's vision and confidence had grown off the scale.

Never wanting to disappoint, every tour, every video, had to top the previous.

There was no doubt this man was genius, with his music and his dance.

I personally have sat in awe as we have replayed music MJ recorded and released, having forgotten he had been the artist.

Probably the saddest thing for me is realizing how unhappy MJ was. He remained an introvert, and there have been many reports of how nervous he became prior to performances.

For me that is the exact opposite of what his performances looked like.

I guess that goes to prove you can't buy happiness and security.

I guess the most alarming thing for me is that people of my generation are beginning to die off. It is even a heightened alarm when they are more and more frequent, and even younger.

Saturday I was saddened with the news that Steve Mc Nair had been killed, and he was only 36 years old. A successful athlete, though never reaching remotely near the pinnacle the MJ did. Mc Nair was married, the father of four. Circumstances surrounding his death are not good. Late Sunday police ruled his death a homicide and there was the possibility of a murder suicide involving a young female friend.

When Rian speaks, whether it is in one of his groups or to chapel, or maybe one on one with some of the students he ministers to, he always has a central theme. Make good choices.

There is always a cause and affect. Reward and sacrifice.

I don't want to be rich. I don't want to be famous. I think I just want to be comfortable. Within my means financially and within myself personally.

My today is still paying the price for the little wild man truck driver. With the holiday Saturday, mail didn't run, preventing me from receiving his envelope with his week's work inside it. What that means is I am needing to complete billing, go to Kinkos and to the Post Office.

And that is just to catch me up.

Have a day!

FATHER, help me to make good choices. May they bring glory and honor to YOU!