Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was the first tape cassette I bought with my own money. I had my mom drive me to the record store in our neighboring town of Gresham, I was 9 years old. I had 37 dollars that I had saved, I took the whole role of money and shoved it in the front of my jeans (I loved to carry it around when we went to the mall but I never spent it). I was holding on to it for something really special.
After I purchased the cassette, we left the store and I jumped into the front passenger seat of our Toyota Corolla. I held the cassette in my hand, examining every detail with delight! I ripped open the plastic and stuck it in the car tape deck immediately – “turn it up!!!!” I screamed, rolling the windows down and making sure it stayed on full blast as we drove around the corner entering into my neighborhood. I saw Jeff (the ‘cool’ boy of the neighborhood) standing on the corner – I was shaking the cassette wildly- ‘I’ve got it!’
I still remember the excitement of watching the video and listening to the album over and over. We would try to master the magical ‘moon walk’ on the cement floor of my basement, we even threw baby powder down to try to get more of a glide goin’ on. Rumors were going around; ‘he must have something on the bottom of his shoes- it is just impossible!!’ Even my parents would get into the act. I can still picture my mom the ‘blond bomb shell’ seriously trying to copy the moon walk- “no no, let me try” My step Dad would chime in- then his buff 6 foot 2 frame would try to do it as well, followed by the hip sway. I would just cover my face with embarrassment, laughing.
Micheal was the perfect example of someone expressing their unique talent- and in doing that, giving an incredible gift to the rest of the world, his essence could never be matched. Regardless of what everyone may have thought of his lifesyle choices, the king of pop is being remembered today for his amazing talents. He will be missed.
