25th
Fine
I’ll say it — I just plain never liked Michael Jackson. Not back in the early ’80s, and not at 16:00 today, right before the news broke. And because I didn’t like him and am nearly alone in that, the entire foofooraw over his death is making me ask myself questions, questions like “Why do we mourn people we never knew personally?”
The answer, of course, is that famous people we like make us feel connected to them in a one-sided way, in the same way friendships make us feel connected mutually. And public mourning of beloved celebrities brings us closer to one another, just like after Diana Spencer died.
But I just did not like the guy, and he does not seem to have lived a very happy life. That last part is the only thing that makes me sad, not just for him but for everyone who dreams of celebrity at levels approaching his. That kind of wealth and recognition can’t make someone happy, but some people still think they want that.
And I guess if your objective is to have a lot of people at your funeral, it’s worth it.
RIP my new friend’s mom, who died today.
