.(wo)man.in.the.mirror.

growing up, i knew there was a king of pop but i never really knew him enough to make me one of the many who admire him.

back in grade school, i was flipping through the pages of my music book. i've always been singing or just reading the songs in it. i was just doing the usual stuff, moving from one song to another, singing, humming, and reading. then for some reason, my eyes laid on a familiar name just below the song Heal the World. i remember loving that song dearly and i couldn't believe he was the one who sang it. i never knew he sings such kind of songs.

that was the first time i run into him as a singer.

back in high school, there was this cd lying around the house- perhaps, waiting to be played. i never really paid much attention to it and preferred other videos to watch. but for some reason, i picked HIStory and watched. it started with fans going crazy upon the unveiling of the singer's statue. i couldn't understand why that it bothered me since. i even asked my mom for some answers but still, not enough to make me understand. i continued watching and i found myself amazed with his moonwalk and forward lean...but still, not enough. i even thought he had stones in his shoes or some kind of black magic. then he sang You Are Not Alone and i just fell in love. i got this song on repeat and was literally scratching the cd to death. i so loved that song that it was the only song i considered as my favorite song in my autobiography project. until now, that moment where he started the song a capella still gives me the chills.

that was the first time i run into him as a star.

a few years ago, i saw him on tv announcing his last concert ever. and for some reason, it hit me. a star going full circle was actually happening right before me. i couldn't believe it'd be his last. then one day, i woke up to the news that he died. i didn't know what to feel. i was even talking to a friend some days before about pop stars who have changed America's musical landscape. all i knew was a real star in my lifetime won't be around anymore and i was in denial.

that was the first time i run into him as a legend.

just now, i saw the documentary Living With Michael Jackson. somehow, it confirmed my theory that he was a lonely child despite all the fame he'd been getting. for some reason, it moved me to tears. i found myself relating to his peter pan syndrome, mean relatives story, love for children, dealings with the conventions of society, and his joy in climbing a tree.

that was the first time i run into a part of me.

w.t.

the queen of wishful thinking is now a big fan of the king of pop.

......nah, more of michael of neverland.

w.w.t.

Man In the Mirror was no. 1 on the day i was born. =))