Kids and Heroes

Today Farrah and MJ died.

I remember in grade school playing Charlie’s Angels on the playground with my best friends Joanie and Dawn. I really wanted to be Farrah (who didn’t?) and was very disheartened that they decided I should be “the smart one” instead.

I remember in high school listening to Michael Jackson’s Thriller for the first time with Kerstin and Judy. One of them, I can’t remember who, said, “You have to hear this!” It really was unlike anything we had heard before. MTV was still new and seeing him dance was unbelievable. The moonwalk may seem silly to my kids but there had not been a dancer so revolutionary in decades.

I also remember watching Farrah self destruct on Late Night with Letterman and her sad reality show where she just seemed crazy.

And I will never remember Michael Jackson without remembering that he was most probably a child molester which is, in my book, along with serial murdering cannibalism, one of the two only unforgivable sins.

I remember feeling sorry for Farrah as she deteriorated before our eyes and sorry for MJ as he continuously mutilated himself to be what he wanted to be but never really was.

When my boys were small we had many conversations about athletes and politicians and we decided that it was not good to idolize people but to admire what they do well. We should not forget that we are all, in the end, human. Our lives are all good, bad, tragic and inspirational all at once. Put your faith in God and not man, for men are human and will certainly disappoint. Only God will never fail you but find inspiration in all that is good, passionate, creative and brave in the imperfect creatures around you.

Kids and Heroes by The Bouncing Souls

Hey where have you gone?
You used to be the one that we looked up to
It seemed like nothing could break you down
How high was the price? And was it worth it?
Nothing in life is sure bet anyway
You’re gone. I guess you weren’t here from the start.
In the end, it’s all a question of heart.

Hey where did it go?
Everything we fought for, and everything it meant
Maybe we were just naive, but I still believe
There are only a few things that really belong to me
Who I am, who I was, and who I want to be

Hey where have I gone?
I used to be the one looking for the hero
In some far off place, blindly ever forward
Never knowing all along, the truth
Was right here in my own song