Dear Michael,

Good bye and thank you for all those years of great music and entertaining music videos, you will always rank amongst my top favorites. I was looking forward to your tour, but alas, the dream of seeing you live is dead, like you.

I would like to share my fondest Jackson memory. When I was growing up, my aunty Zoila had a small apartment in Hollywood. Once in a while my mom would let her babysit me. This was always a treat because that meant I got to hang out at her place, which for a 10 year old was a total delight.

Not only did she have the best music blaring from her stereo at all times, but her apartment was like a shrine to the King of Pop. Every square inch of wall in her little studio was covered in some sort of Michael Jackson poster, pin-up, flyer, or magazine clipping. She also had over-sized buttons and other objects bearing the image of Jackson.

How is this a cherished a memory, you ask? Well, this was 1986 my friends, long before he went plastic surgery crazy. Not that he hadn't had any work done then, but he looked beautiful. To me, and my aunt, he was a beautiful man. And that's how I will always remember Michael Jackson. It saddens me to see those hideous pictures of him recently. But whatever it was that was making him crazy, will no more. I will miss you in the tabloids.

Good bye Michael Jackson.

Signed,
Thrilla from Manila