Thursday, July 09, 2009
Stop existing and start living
The morning I heard Michael Jackson had passed away, I was shocked, like the rest of the world. And then, a moment later, I got out of bed and moved on with life. As with every other overly faddish icon or trend, I've kept my distance (I guess subconsciously, that's my way of being different). Well, not that I don't think he's a talented performer or anything, but in this case, I just didn't see the need to mourn for someone I hardly knew. Amidst the fuss about his death, I even tweeted a message saying, "if you ask me, he died a long time ago." I really felt that way. To me, MJ was an entertainer, a singer - no different from the other 234 artists in my ipod.
Growing up, I was actually more interested in boy bands and the golden oldies (thanks to my dad) to really bother about MJ's music, but I do remember liking a couple of his smooth numbers - think 'heal the world' and 'you are not alone' - which somehow left a deeper impression than his other popular hits. Then in the late 90s, the acclaimed musical icon was no longer famous for his music, but infamous for his screwed up personal life.
Anyway, I was watching the encore telecast of the memorial show over dinner earlier, and for some reason, I viewed every performance as a subtle intent for instant stardom, every speech was a has-been's opportunity to leave an impression, every tear was a fabricated tale of love that's lost. (Gosh, I realised how cynical I sound right now.)
But what I'm trying to say, after rambling for three paragraphs (that's the effect Twitter has on you - it makes you really constipated), is that, there was one particular speech which caught my attention and offered me a new perspective on MJ.
Ok, firstly, I didn't know until today, that MJ and Brooke Shields had dated briefly in their heydays, so when Ms Shields went on stage to give her eulogy, cynical Jo rolled her eyes. And as you'd have guessed , this is one of those bite-me-in-the-ass moments because through her speech, I felt like I truly got to know a bit about the real Michael. It's one of those things you just know is heartfelt and real (even though one can always argue that she's a Hollywood actress who can cry on cue). But I don't think anyone can fake a friendship like that...
Through her, I saw Michael, not as a singer, songwriter, entertainer, dancer, or king, but as a person. He was a person, like anyone of us, crying out for help, wanting so badly to be normal, but the world doesn't allow him to be. He was a person, reaching out to others in love and friendship, and yet being cheated and manipulated for his wealth. He was a person, an innocent child in a grown up body, who saw the world in its brokeness and tried to fix things. And that was when I felt genuinely sad for him - for his deprived childhood, his oppressions, his missed opportunities. He could have been so much more, if only...
And I think what he has left behind is more than a mere legacy in the history of music. As a person, he has taught us that what's important is using our lives to make a difference. At his peak, he did this through music. And rather than just sitting and crying over his death, we ought to think about how we too, can make a difference in our brief time on earth.
RIP Michael. May God bless your soul.
Posted by Jo at 12:02 AM
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Day 13 highlights: We've only just begun
So here we are, on the last day of Hil & Jo's Eurotrip 2009. If you've been following me through the last 12 days, I hope you had fun reading about our trip as much as I had reminiscing them. But honestly, more than that, I've decided to put in so much effort into recording these entries because I want it to be something which my future kids can look at, sort of a documentary of their mummy's younger days. It'll be especially helpful since I have such a poor memory.Anyway, we started our day at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, which is one of the four major basilicas. This is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St Jerome was buried here.
We then walked over to the nearby Basilica of Saint Praxedes which houses a segment of the alleged pillar upon which Jesus was tortured before his crucifixion in Jerusalem.
The Fontana di Trevi (also known as the Trevi Fountain) is the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in Rome. According to Wiki, some 3,000 euros are tossed into the fountain everyday and the money is used to subsidise a supermarket for the needy.
On the way to our next location, we walked past a very entertaining basker who played drunk and would only move when people dropped some money for him.
The Pantheon, which means 'every god' in Greek, was originally built by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome. It is the oldest large-scale dome and one of the best preserved of all Roman buildings. Having been in continuous use throughout its history, the Roman Catholic church took over the building in the 7th century, and till today, it is dedicated to St Mary and the Martyrs.
Our second last destination in Rome was the Castel Sant'Angelo. It was initially commissioned by Hadrian, a Roman emperor, as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum with a stunning view of St Peter's Basilica.
St Peter's Basilica, which we've visited twice in the last four days in Rome, was the last official stop for our trip. I forgot to mention earlier that this is also one of the four major basilicas of Rome.
So, here comes the highlight of all highlights. We attended sunset mass in Italian and after mass, Hil suggested that we say a thanksgiving prayer to conclude our trip. Midway through our prayer, the 'bouncers' were starting to chase people out because it was closing time so we had to vacate the area. And as we walked towards the exit, somewhere in the middle of the basilica, Hil stopped and (I think) this was what he said: "This may seem a bit weird but, will you marry me?" and pulled out a ring from his pocket. In a sense, I was totally caught off-guard and didn't see it coming, but at the same time, I kinda knew it was coming soon. So yea, in case you're still wondering, I said yes...and as I've titled this entry: We've only just begun. Do continue to keep us in your prayers!
