"We Had Him"

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing.
Now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our finger tips like a puff of summer wind.
Without notice, our dear love can escape our doding embrace.
Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.
In the instance we learn that Michael is gone, we know nothing.
No clocks can tell our time and no oceans can rush our tides.
With the abrupt absence of our treasure, though we are many, each of us is achingly alone; piercingly alone.
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.
He came to us from the Creator, trailing creativity in abundance.
Despite the anguish of life, he was sheethed in Mother Love and family love and survived.
And did not more than that, he thrived.
With passion and compassion. Humor and Style.
We had him.
Whether we knew who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.
We had him.
Beautiful, delighting our eyes. he raked his hat.
Slant over his brow and took a pose on his toes for all of us and we laughed and stomped our feet for him.
We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing; he gave us all he had been given.
Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eifel Tower. In Ghana's Black Star Square, in Johannasburg, and Pittsburgh. In Birmingham, Alabama and Birmingham, England. We are missing Michael Jackson.
But we do know we had him.
And we are the world.

-Dr. Maya Angelou; read by Queen Latifah

it's hard to believe that it's been 5 years

because it feels like yesterday and forever ago all at the same time!

I'm so grateful for my life today... I have a brother that I didn't have 5 years ago. I can feel my heart again... it hurt too much five years ago to allow it to feel. My children now know the faces and have spent quality time with those that became so important to me. We have shared so many experiences and they finally got to see me TRULY at my best and most happy.

I'm grateful for all the ones that are vital in my daily life now that never would have been had I not made that first trip.

I'm grateful for all the ones that were the reason I wanted to make that first trip to begin with.

I'm grateful that I live under the biggest sky on the planet with the most magical sunsets I've ever seen.

I'm grateful that I sit on my back patio and hear the crickets... but can drive just 20 minutes and see the beautiful lights of downtown Dallas.

Five years ago this weekend... I came to Texas for the first time... I'm so grateful today that this is where I make my home and for the family that comes along with that.