The Eldest and I went to see “This Is It” Friday night.  A rare date for just the two of us.  One-on-one time with either boy is something that I love and always promise myself I’ll do more often.   But time, as always, is usually the issue.  So when these opportunities do come along – I really enjoy them.

Now, I’m not a BIG Michael Jackson fan, and there was that whole court case issue.  And although the 9 year old Eldest isn’t a big fan either, he is a lover of music and has seen many Michael Jackson impersonators while on our yearly vacations to Caribbean resorts.  He also recently discovered Micheal’s music this past summer when radio stations starting playing a lot of it again after his death.  So he was keen to go with me.

And we thoroughly enjoyed it.  You simply can not deny that Michael had talent.  And lots of it.  He was a true entertainer.

The movie is basically the behind-the-scenes footage of him rehearsing for his upcoming concert tour.  And what a concert it would have been.  He was going to perform every big hit he had ever had.  With the most unbelievable special effects and visuals.  Some real ground-breaking stuff.  It would have been awesome.

I would have bought a ticket.  I know it would have been really expensive, but it would have been a once-in-a-lifetime thing.  And it would have been totally worth it.

Now, I’m no expert, but he certainly didn’t appear sick and he certainly didn’t appear drugged out.  Although he was thin, he appeared completely well, and very in control of both his body and his thoughts.

But what struck me the most was how kind and humble he seemed to be.  And thankful.  Thankful for the people around him that were also preparing for this tour, and just thankful for the opportunity to be doing it.  There was no big ego.  No “mantrums”.  No outlandish demands of his “people”.  Just kind, humble, creative cooperation.  He knew what he wanted.  He knew how to create a real concert experience and he wanted to give his audience the very best.

And it certainly would have been.

What a shame.