I may not have grown up in the Jackson era, but that didn’t make the phenomenon any less present in my household. Having a mother as a music teacher exposed me to good music at a young age. Though I didn’t have much appreciation for music then, there was always one artist that stood out to me… Michael Jackson.
I was always asking for Michael. My family members knew that if you put on the Dangerous: The Short Films VHS, I would be glued to the TV set until it ended. For some reason I connected with his music and found myself just as smitten as a young girl in the 70s.
I remember looking through phone books around the age of 6 or 7 trying to find Michael Jackson’s number. All I wanted to do was speak with him for a few minutes to tell him how much I loved him!
One day, my grandmother made my dreams come true. She told me several times that she knew him and would arrange for us to have a short conversation. He was very busy, she warned, but was willing to take some time to say a quick hello to me.
“I told Michael we would be calling today,” I remember her saying.
We sat down on the edge of the bed with her telephone in hand. I watched as she dialed the numbers and waited patiently as the phone began to ring.
“Hi Michael, I have someone here that wants to speak with you,” she said. Then she handed me the phone.
I heard a soft voice on the other end of the line that said, “Hello Jasmine”. He knew my name!!
Our conversation was very brief but I did have a chance to tell the person on the other end of the line how much I loved his music. I don’t remember him saying much except a quiet “thank you” and we disconnected before I had a chance to say goodbye.
It was the happiest day of my life! I thought I had just spoken to the great King of Pop! I was on cloud 9 for the rest of the day telling everyone that I could.
Of course I realized not long after that the phone call was just a set up to make me happy. My grandmother didn’t really know Michael. But, it’s still one of my fondest memories.
For those few moments I felt like I was on top of the world. And when I look back now and think about that young girl, I realize there’s never been another artist that has made me feel the same excitement.
Michael’s talent was truly one of a kind. May he Rest in Peace as his music lives on- forever.
RELATED LINKS:
Michael Jackson’s Most Candid Moments
Michael Jackson: What We Didn’t Know
