R.I.P. Michael, and us

I think Michael Jackson’s death is so important to many of us because in some ways, it marks the passing of our youth. After all, he has been with us all of our life, if we are Millenials. His song “Billie Jean” was number one on the Top 40 charts when i was born, my third grade class listened to him incessantly and interminably during indoor recess, his friendship with Macauly Caulkin was a memorable tabloid story during an era of tabloids, I discovered the Jackson Five in junior high school at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I threw up 11 times when I had the flu and was watching the Jackson Five tv movie all day.

It is the end of an era for us 1980s kids.