☀ (`’·. History... The Sands of Time .·’´) ☀

      "I'll forever be counting backwards from June 25th, 2009" ~ Betty Byrnes

How many times in your life can you say the world stopped? As humans we tend to mark time with these moments... and most are made of joy or grief.  I for one, like many others I'm sure, track time with meaningful events in my life. The joyful moments of the birth of my children or grandchildren... are the very Best of Joy. ☀

There are those moments in time too where an event takes place and the entire world stops as they process... moments that will forever mark History. The assassination of President Kennedy, then Martin Luther King... and then Bobby Kennedy... the death of Lady Diana... tragic, monumental moments creating right and left turns in history... changing the world forever. These people whose passing changed our lives so greatly the vast majority of society did not personally know them; yet the bond we felt was a tangible thing. We admired and followed them and looked to them to guide us and point the way toward a better version of ourselves and of this world.

Tracking time in a lifespan capsule... truly important events over time seem to never be forgotten, yet the actual date will fade from memory. I tend to remember only the emotion, smells, sights, feelings from that moment in history. However when Michael Jackson died... that date... that moment when the news spread like wild fire around the world... it seemed as though the axis of this planet earth, shifted... every nation stopped in disbelief... trying to process the news. It was surreal. Yes the axis of earth seemed to shift and definitely the axis of my life shifted... paradigms shifted as life forever changed for me.

Michael Jackson, an old soul, had the ability at a very early age, over his entire career, and still today even after his passing via his music and artistry to reach into the psyche, soul and heart of a person... to places where most musicians and artists, if they are very good, only scratch the surface. He could reach into the collective heart of an arena filled with 100,000+ people and move them like no other, hold them captive with his magical touch. In history to this day his performance ability is unparalleled. His love for this planet and all the people on it regardless of race, creed or nationality was all encompassing. In the highest sense of the word he was a true humanitarian from a very early age, an instrument of peace in a dark and dreary world. His music infused with God given energy still today inspires, brings change and love into this world. He shared his lifetime moments via his music, expressing angst, love, frustration or awe, wonder and joy. He made it possible for us all to vent our pain or share our love as we experienced MJ's music... it is like we knew him... truly knew him. His art, his music and his love for this world is timeless.

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." - Maya Angelou

An inexplicable need to write came over me only weeks after Micheal's death. He had touched my heart and life on so many levels. I felt guilt and remorse over how he had been treated and maligned in this world. I was truly blessed with time for my parents before they passed to their heavenly home. I gratefully spent many days and months with them sharing about our lives together... laughing, crying, talking things through, sometimes arguing as families do, sometimes just sitting in silence with nothing needing to be said. I was able to say my long goodbyes to both my mother and my father... express love to them, hug them, kiss them and hold no regrets.  When Michael Jackson passed I was shocked to feel although I didn't know him his death affected me as if he were a family member... only sadly there were so many regrets. What had I missed? Why had I not prayed more for him? Who else in my life had I ignored when they needed me most? In reality I knew as a regular average human on this planet I'd never have been able to known the super star MJ on a personal level... yet at the very least I could have prayed more, listened more, kept an ear tuned to the needs of others. I felt I had failed him... the world had failed him.

Yes my life stopped along with the world's on June 25th, 2009... yet unlike any other time in history the world joined together and collectively poured out their hearts and grief over the loss of this mega-star, albeit a human being with a heart of gold. This artist who literally believed that 'his' children were ALL the children of the world and literally took that burden on in his life... to Heal The World. The study of Michael Jackson's altruistic givings is a massive undertaking and extends itself to every continent and nation on this planet. He was a special human being led by his love of God and the human race. And God had imparted to Michael an enormous amount of talent and artistry... more than any other human could endure or encompass... for it was God's portion just for Michael Jackson. By his own admission his musicality, artistry and creativity NEVER stopped. It was both a blessing and curse when it came to sleep which led to chronic insomnia. 
 
Not long after his death it seemed this gigantic slice of creativity which Michael embodied was bequeathed over the masses he left behind. It seemed as though like a sparkly, sprinkling of artistic fairy dust entered our lives... so many found a new desire to sing, write, dance, draw, paint.... create. We were drawn together on social media forums sharing this new found desire to express ourselves. For me the deep desire to write encompassed my every waking moment. I found myself grabbing little papers and napkins which led to notebooks and scribbling down words, phrases and sentences that suddenly were in my head... I had to get them out... write them down and express myself. It felt as if I didn't voice what was filling my mind and heart I'd burst. I'd never experienced anything like it in my life. Like an assignment from God it had to be expressed... once a story or writing began I'd not stop... could not sleep until I felt it was finished which led to days and nights with no sleep. Was this a thimble full of what Michael Jackson must have felt in his life?

All I knew is I had to write. The words the stories were flowing in my veins. The end result was this blog, 'Michael's Heart'. Through this blog and Social Media I've connected and bonded with people, soul mates, from around the globe. My tiny life which previously for many decades consisted of church, children, work and home became this vast canvas of languages, cultures and friends from around the world. We were one! Fulfilling a life long dream of Michael's to bring the world together in LOVE. No matter our nationality... we were the same... our love for Michael and his music and all he gave this world was the glue that pieced together our broken hearts.  Is this a thimble full of what Michael felt?

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.
- Rabindranath Tagore

In the process of writing my blog after Michael's death a sweet memory from my childhood came back to me... would not leave me. Like a distant knocking on a long closed door... it became louder and louder with each passing day. Once I acknowledged the memory and allowed it a stage on my heart the flood gates opened. I soon found that Michael's sprinkling of creativity had opened the door to my childhood. His gift to me opened a place I felt was inconsequential in the larger scheme of things. Life had dished large portions of difficult circumstances which I'd learned to navigate and survive. For me looking back at the decades past had been a waste of time... for after all you can not go back... so why waste your time? Like a warrior I kept my eyes and mind focused forward always vigilant for the next onslaught to come my way. Being a realist of sorts I grew to believe you must deal with what was in front of you... survival is putting one foot in front of the other and praying to get to the other side of pain... and there had been voluminous amounts of pain in my life. So why look back?

The surprise here for me since Michael's sprinkling over my life was I simply had no choice. Just as he had no choice over expressing the massive amount of talent God had served him. He was who he was. He needed to create art of all sorts and styles to be all God created him to be. I too had to write these memories down... for what reason I may never know... but I had no choice. However, I do know the blessed inspiration was from God and Michael Jackson. The result was a book filled with memories of a childhood I'd long forgotten. In the beginning I felt I needed to share it for my children and grandchildren. It became my mission in my own way of completing of my father's memoirs of his time as the first Manager of NASA in Houston, Texas, to relay the family legacy of strength and brilliance my father left us. However as I delved into the memories over taking me... I realized maybe it was just for me and for Michael? Or maybe for all of us? Finally I just stopped questioning. I've learned there needs to be no real reason to convey the creativity bursting forth, needing to be expressed... Just Do It! God knows the reasons... the results are in His hands!

This expression has been the most cathartic and healing excursion through my early childhood. Did I expose myself? Yes. Did I have trepidation over that exposure of such personal memories? Yes. Yet ... for me, for my dad... for my future... here it is serving as a crystal clear light into my future. For today I do not exist to survive, waiting for each new calamitous happening to arrive. Today because I was given this panoramic view into my past... I live... in the now... with joy in my heart.

If you decide to read Moon Child: Growing Up NASA and I hope you do as I absolutely LOVE to share it... I do really hope you enjoy it. You will hopefully feel transported with me to another place in history... the 1960s and '70s. An exciting yet simpler place where the Space Race was at the forefront of our lives and family togetherness took prevalence over all. Before computers and cell phones, when children played out side and were called to dinner, where entire families sat at the dinner table every night for a fully rounded, home cooked meal. Where the primary form of communication was the art of letter writing and the rare long distance phone call was made only for family emergencies through a long distance operator. People were closer... communities smaller and people on the street talked to one another. Children could play freely in the city and take bus rides alone into town. Black and White tube TV had just taken it's place in every middle class home in America... and a new age had begun.

☀ Come and take the journey with me in Moon Child: Growing Up NASA. ☀

You can find more information and order a signed copy of the book website:
http://www.moonchildgrowingupnasa.com/

or you can purchase it at Amazon.com
http://amzn.to/1LjdiOr

Check out the videos I made for the book... this was fun!
Working on the 60's video now. Will post it soon.

 

♥ Michael Jackson - The Truth About MJ ♥

             

                       "SO SHINES A GOOD DEED IN A WEARY WORLD"
 ~ Willy Wonka

This is a statement, a manifesto of sorts, revealing Michael Jackson's true character. The irrefutable TRUTH... about his love for children... hopefully an illuminating look into Michael's Heart.

The main subject here was originally posted not long after Michael's death by a now grown child, the personal recipient of MJ's healing love. I remember reading the post on a comment thread on Oprah's website with tears running down my face, sobbing and praying to God that Oprah, who was one of the those in the army from Hollywood and the media that relentlessly attacked MJ's character with aspersions toward his manhood, relationships, sexual orientation and relationship to children... always leaving the implied thought of something perverse hanging in the air. I remember praying and hoping Oprah would read the post and feel deep remorse and regret over her part in the defamation of his character. I continue to pray for those spreading hate and lies about this man... a gentleman... in fact the perfect epitome of a 'gentle' man...  whose love for this world, still today almost six years after his death, out weighs all their hate and jealousy.

"If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed." ~ Adolf Hitler

In spite of crippling emotional pain from media inflicted slander, and betrayal of those lusting after the almighty dollar Michael Jackson walked as the Bible taught him. I am not saying Michael was like God or is God. I know some MJ fans literally take it too far. I truly believe that Michael would be revoltingly appalled knowing that some of his fan base actually pray TO him. He continually pointed to God, our creator, as his source... sharing many times all of his blessings, inspiration and abilities came directly from God. He never took credit... always pointing above to his heavenly Father. The reality is that Michael read the Bible on a regular basis. This fact has been shared by those who spent time with him... who personally knew him. I'm sure he'd smile down from heaven and love it if those praying to him today would get out the Bible and start reading it daily and taking it to heart as he did... instead of praying to him.... instead just go directly to the source he worshiped. He was a human being who practiced what the Bible teaches to the best of his ability, which for most of us was far beyond what we could ever comprehend or have accomplished. Given the opportunity to step into his 'loafers' and live his life I dare say not anyone on this planet could have ever lived so fully or with such graciousness and love.

"With just a little love and a little caring, I have seen kids totally turn around. Where you can't find any cancer at all anymore in their body. I've done it a lot of times. I'm not trying to say I'm Jesus Christ. We should just give a little more attention to the power of love and caring and faith and prayer."     ~ Michael Jackson, 2003

No matter the defamation or hate thrust at Michael he could not help but be his quintessential self... and this essential God given nature was all about Peace and Love. Albeit he perfected and mastered music and dance as it filled his every pore and brain cell 24 hours a day; Michael physically embodied LOVE, sharing this God given anointed treasure with those around him at every turn. He reached out to the sick and needy everywhere...  and those needy were not just children from around the world but also the elderly, entire families, communities, charities, hospitals, the environment and this planet. In fact according to Elizabeth Taylor he gave far too much of himself away... to his own detriment. This is what the media and greedy in Hollywood who clawed to become rich and famous hated and resented about Michael... not only his massive success but his humble, caring character.... for evil and darkness hate the light of love and Michael Jackson truly actualized LOVE in all he did. The worldwide bullying of Michael Jackson is unprecedented to this day and yet never once did he retaliate... this is just something those inflicting that abuse could not understand.... for evil will never understand love.

Sadly there are those in this world so tainted their blurred view of life perceives all goodness as nefarious and malicious. This is a prime example of how Michael Jackson was just too good... too loving...  for this evil world.  Those twisted by greed, jealousy and worship of the almighty dollar and/or lust for fame twisted Michael's association with children. Ironically what these tainted minds are unable to comprehend is that because of people like them Michael was most at peace with children who wanted NOTHING from him. There was nothing nefarious in his motives... just a wish to gain back a bit of his lost childhood and to spend time with humans who held no ulterior motives, wanted nothing from him and viewed him as just a fun person to be around.

Please read this truth and share it with anyone who believes the media lies spread about Michael Jackson. Although there are many who will refuse to believe nothing but the slander... all I can say to that is... some have permanent blinders on... refuse to open their minds to anything but hate... for that... well... you just can't fix stupid. In that instance... all you can do is share the truth then knock the dust from your sandals and move on.

For those who have truly experienced sexual abuse or abuse of any kind my heart goes out to you. I too have experienced this trauma and know others who have suffered the same. For me these disingenuous statements about abuse only prove to make a mockery of those who have truly suffered... and reiterate the fear of coming forward. I'm unable to express in words the massive anger I feel toward those making false allegations about child abuse for monetary gain. It is absolutely as abhorrently evil as the crime against the child.

It has been shared by those who knew Michael including his family that in Michael's mind he believed that all the children of the world were 'his' children... and that he could truly change the world.... and that he did!! There are many accounts like the one below by 'Swiftheart' from children and families around the globe who actually met Michael and experienced his giving, caring, beautiful heart of LOVE and his deep desire to heal the world, especially the children.

As I find these accounts I will add them to this blog post.... to get the truth out there because even today... six years after his death there are still those lying about Michael Jackson for monetary profit. It's much easier to sue Michael Jackson or his estate, hoping for a huge settlement rather than work an honest job. Or there are those who launched so called 'news' careers by spreading slander about Michael. Most of these repugnant individuals have fallen by the wayside. Karma dishing out it's just rewards on them as we, thankfully, rarely hear from them anymore. If only that could have happened while Michael was alive... but then most assuredly he is freely and happily dancing in his heavenly bliss and doesn't even give them the slightest Billie Jean fedora nod. They in the end as with all hate and lies... are absolutely meaningless in the bigger picture of all that Michael Jackson gave to this world.

"He was just so genuine and so warm and so caring.  All of the time I knew 
Michael, almost 20 years, I never ever heard him raise his voice at 
anybody.  Never happened.  He was just such a good person.  Just a 
really deep-down good person." ~ David Nordahl

The lies are being exposed... although you will not hear any of this in the media. The fact that the father of the original accuser committed suicide after Michael's death and the boy forced to say those things against Michael by his parents so they could garner a rancid $20 million removed himself from their care... is no where touted in the media. They do not share that the boy sickened by his parents actions gained full emancipation from both his parents and his step father as soon as possible and has since denied Michael Jackson ever molested him. Nor today will you read about the back story of these sad 'out of work' choreographer/dancers/singers whose bitterness and greed expose their motives and belie all accusations they have made against Michael Jackson. It only takes a bit of research into the character of these accusers and the trail of failures in their careers, which over the years relied heavily on Michael's propping them up, to see the motives behind their lies. After Michael's death those who banked on any sort of income from association with MJ or from hanging on to his coattails over the years have suffered. The free ride has come to an abrupt halt for those who depended on association with Michael as career flotation in the entertainment industry, and there are many. If they had not over the years worked to build their own careers based on real talent, built on their own merits... if they had not learned the needed lessons from Michael's incredible work ethic and example... then with his death their careers and lives took a catastrophic dive into oblivion. They scrambled after his death to garner spots with the MJ Estate based MJ shows and were found lacking, did not fit the bill, or measure up to the task, coincidentally after this bitter rejection was when they vindictively made a desperate last minute move and conjure up the false stories about Michael Jackson molesting them. Clearly if they can't work with the MJ Estate then they will sue them! I will not delve into the names of these unscrupulous, desperate people or the accusations still being made against Michael. I will not give them power here... evil and deception will not be given a place on this site. Shared here... only the truth of Michael's Heart. 

Truth always wins... Michael shared this message as he rose up and walked with dignity and continued to LOVE children globally as Jesus told us to LOVE. May each of us by Michael Jackson's example of Jesus' love for the world and... especially the children help us to strive to be more like him in all we do.

May he rest in peace and may truth continue to be his vindicator! 

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User Swiftheart posted this in the discussion on oprah.com (Lisa Marie Presley speaks about the death of her ex-husband Michael Jackson) on October 18th, 2010:

I was diagnosed with a rare form of child bone cancer in 2000 at the age of fifteen. I was to start chemo therapy in August of that year. Not many people know this but Michael opened up Neverland several times each year for anyone to come and enjoy the park. Everything was free. Rides, games, food. A friend of mine who was a regular at Neverland called me one night and told me the park was going to be open for two weeks at the beginning of August that year. I asked my parents if they would take me the week before I was scheduled to start chemo. My doctors all advised against saying they feared I was too weak but I eventually talked my parents in to it. We had to drive what seemed like several miles after we went through the front gates of Neverland to get to where the actual park was with the rides. As we were driving down the winding road something came over me that I can't explain to this day. It was almost a feeling of peace.

When my family and I stepped out of the car we weren't sure if we should check in with someone or really what to do. A man finally walked over to us and introduced himself and then explained to my parents how everything worked. We signed in with our names and other information and were given matching wrist bands and told we could ride anything we wanted, eat anything we wanted, play any of the games, etc. The man mentioned that on occasion Michael would come outside and say hello to everyone there. My parents thanked the man and within minutes I was at the top of the ferris wheel with my Dad. We rode it three times in a row and then it was on to the swings. We rode the rides for hours before getting in line to get some cotton candy and popcorn. As we sat down at a table with our snacks we noticed a crowd of children running all in one direction. I stood up on the seat of the table we were at but couldn't see anything. Several minutes later the crowd began moving towards us and it was then that I saw Michael. Standing under a huge umbrella and laughing as children were pulling at his arms, legs, and hugging him.

My Mom then grabbed my hand and we made our way over to him. We introduced ourselves and my Mom told him what a wonderful time we were having. She then told him about my cancer and that I would be starting chemo the next week. When she said that Michael put one hand on my head and said, "God Bless you." When he touched me I felt the same feeling of peace and comfort that I did as I had when we drove through the gates of Neverland. He stood there and talked to us for a couple more minutes and then he left. I continued riding rides with my family and the other children but I couldn't stop thinking about meeting him. As we were leaving that night the man who we spoke to when we arrived stopped my dad and handed him a note. The note was from Michael and it was inviting the three of us to have dinner with him. Without hesitation my Dad accepted the invitation and the man then directed us to through another gate which led to the main house. I was surprised once we were in front of the house. I expected it to be this huge mansion but it wasn't. It wasn't small but it certainly wasn't huge. Several people who worked for him greeted us when we pulled up outside. We had dinner with Michael and his children that night and to this day it was the best night of my life. After dinner he asked my parents if it would be ok if he prayed with us and of course they said yes. I had never and still to this day have never heard anyone pray the way he did. At fifteen years old it made me cry

After he finished praying I opened my eyes and looked to each of my parents who were in tears as well. Michael was gracious enough to give us a tour of some of the things were weren't able to see earlier in the day. He showed us the arcade and the movie theatre. The movie theatre at Neverland was not your typical theatre. Not only were there seats like a real theatre, there were also beds for the children who were too sick to sit up. After showing us around we said goodbye to Michael and thanked him for everything. Imagine my Mother's surprise when she received a call from him several days later! We assumed he had obtained our number from the sign in sheet that we filled out upon arriving at Neverland. He asked her how I was doing and she told him I would begin chemo on Monday. He then gave her a number in which to reach him directly and asked her to please call him and let him know how I was doing around the middle of the week. She agreed. I went that Monday morning to the hospital prepared to begin chemo. When the doctor walked in the room he asked both of my parents to sit down. The three of us feared he was going to say the cancer had spread. They had run blood work and some more scans on me two days prior which is typical prior to beginning treatment. When the doctor began to speak he looked at my parents and said, "I don't know how to tell you this. I don't know how to explain this but Danielle no longer has cancer. There are no signs of it on any of the scans we just took."

My Mom, my Dad, and I sat there and just stared at him and finally my Mom burst in to tears. We left the hospital and the first thing my Mom did when we got home was call Michael. I was embarrassed because she was crying on the phone but then she handed the phone to me to speak to him and it was obvious he had been crying as well. Through the years Michael remained in touch with my family and would call us several times a year on the phone to say hello. He would sometimes send us gifts and cards. I have been cancer free for ten years now. I can't explain what happened when I went to Neverland. It's defies explanation. I want people to know that I am not the only one who visited Neverland very sick only to become well after my visit. There are hundreds, if not thousands of us. Our stories were never made public because Michael didn't want that. He was a wonderful man. I have never met anyone who cared so deeply about not just children but people in general.

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"When children listen to music, they don't just listen. They melt into 
the melody and flow with the rhythm. Something inside starts to unfold 
its wings, soon the child and the music are one.
I feel that way, too, in the presence of music, and my best moments of creativity have often been spent with children. When I am around them, music comes to me as easily as breathing."
                                                                                           ~ Michael Jackson "A Child Is A Song"

Kenny Ortega, Michael's Art Director, choreographer and friend for decades speaks about the true character of his friend, Michael Jackson.

1988, United Negro College Fund, Michael Jackson is presented with the Frederick Patterson Award.
Beautiful Elizabeth Taylor speaks about her treasured friend, Michael Jackson, and his true character. How he gave so much to this world... to the point of hurting himself. She speaks of the anonymous help and charity given to so many and how even the receivers many times did not know the help came from Michael Jackson.