A New Chapter?
So once again, I'm in between coasts and really don't know where life will take me, but I guess it's pretty exciting.This afternoon, I went out to lunch with my mom at a local cafe. She kind of tricked me. I thought we were going to go to the larger Cheesecake Factory because I've had an overwhelming and unexplainable craving for pasta for the last few days. But when I got in the car, she demanded we go some place more local. Okay.. I guess it was a misunderstanding. For me, going to local restaurants in my hometown is kind of torture. I really don't need to make small talk with people my mother knows from town. And I really don't need to be introduced as the "older daughter" only to get mistaken for a recent high school graduate. I kid you not. This happens every time. Actually, today's experience was so typical I could have just had deja vu.
SCENE ONELet me set the scene for you. We enter a nearly full cafe mostly filled with people over 50. My mother and I sit down right smack in the middle of two tables that are only about a foot apart from us. Right away, she says hello to the table next to us, introducing me.. blah blah blah. They make small talk. Two minutes later, she recognizes the woman on her other side. They make small talk. She congratulates the woman because she had recently heard her son was engaged. I ask who her son is. She says that I'm probably too young and don't know him. Yup. Her son is 5 years younger than me and is friends with a childhood friend's younger brother. I don't know him because he's younger than me. She apologizes for the mistake and the whole table nods in agreement that I'm better off looking way younger than I am.END SCENE
SCENE TWOAfter dropping my mother off, I head to the Riverside Square Mall to return a few things. It is incredibly upscale and usually quiet although to my delight, they have recently opened an H&M. I walk around admiring the hair of an Orthodox woman who is, from what I gather, shopping with her husband. She looks incredibly young and I try to figure out how she got her hair to be so thick and shiny with a near professional blow out until I realize, oh yeah, it's a wig. Orthodox women have to shave their heads and wear wigs when they get married. A few minutes later, I enter Victoria's Secret where I hear the Pains of Being Pure at Heart playing in the store. I'm stunned. One of the band members went to both my high school and college. In fact, one time sophomore year in high school, we both got yelled at because we slid out my bedroom window and hung out on my roof. According to my dad, we could have fallen through and broken the roof. Right. END SCENE
SCENE THREEI make my last stop at Barnes & Noble. I would have preferred waiting to purchase a new Moleskin at Borders assuming they carry them and they go on sale, but my Moleskin needs were pressing. As many of my friends know, I'm obsessed with notebooks. I stare at the selections, intensely imagining myself with either a hard covered or soft covered black Moleskin. Red or black. I curse myself for leaving my hard covered, black Moleskin in San Francisco and finally settle on a perfect replacement - soft covered black. My obsessiveness in finding the perfect notebook ties back to a need to start a new chapter in my life. If, God forbid, I made the wrong notebook choice, my new life would be off to a wrong start, right? Yes, knowing my compulsions and quarks in the first step to recovery. It takes me another 10 minutes to choose the perfect Thank You note cards for my job interviews. I finally settle on a delicate case of cards that feature an Eiffel Tower with a scripted "merci" in magenta. So here I am entering a new chapter of my life - a potential new job, definitely a different area of advertising, a new decade (30 in April), potentially a new apartment and even new city (Brooklyn). But on my journey, I have equipped myself with the same type of notebook that I used to plan out my change. The cards I chose reflect my love of Paris and magenta. And actions told me that our purchases strongly reflect who we are in deeper and nuanced ways.END SCENE
SCENE FOURAfter carefully selecting my purchases, I head to the cash register. With a sinking feeling, I recognize the woman at the register. I vaguely remember her being my boss at some job I had about 10 years ago. For some reason, I hope she doesn't recognize me, but she does. She says my face looks so familiar. I completely get her wrong even though I rarely try to guess people's name. Her name is not Dorothy and she's not my boss from Clinique. Nope. She worked with me at B. Dalton, the now defunct bookstore, previously owned by Barnes and Noble. It was one of my first after school jobs that I insisted on getting my senior year of high school. It's where I first heard about Harry Potter way back in 1999 when they were considered just children's books. It's where I first worked in a place that didn't involve sweating in a camp t-shirt. And here she was, working the cash register. Like me, she has probably gone through many hardships and experiences over the last 12 years but honestly hadn't aged a bit. The recent New York Times article about the failings of the publishing industry flashed in my mind. I think about how strongly I'm contemplating finally purchasing a Kindle. We both genuinely smile and wish each other well. As I walk away, I wonder, is this a new chapter? Or am I re-reading a different version of the same story?END SCENE
Back In San Francisco!!!
I arrived back in San Francisco yesterday morning after having woken up at 4am for my 7:30am flight. Thank you Papa Dukes for driving me, and no, I have no idea why me or my sister call you that. But before I left, Mischief walked in front of me 3 times on Friday. I suspect it was to trip me so I couldn't leave. But the more likely explanation is that Mischief doesn't realize the pecking order of cats to humans; i.e. that he has to move out of the way. Yes, I nearly fell down the stairs. My father plopped Thomas onto my bed before I went to sleep and instructed him to "stay with his mother." And he did, until I woke up at 4am. All the cats looked genuinely confused at being woken up that early. They looked to us for guidance. Their eyes said "ma, should I eat now or go back to sleep? I don't get this. It's still dark."
Okay, enough about cats. We arrived at the airport with ample time. I switched on my light weight jacket and nearly started shivering during my walk from the car to the airport. 15 degrees will do that to you. If there was ever a girl who understood self-branding, it's me. I don't know many people who accidentally have 4 items of a deep magenta on - my pants, scarf, handbag and carry-on suitcase.
I sat in the Virgin America waiting room trying not to fall asleep and spotted a group of 4 young boys. They looked Eastern European with crew cuts, all probably within 4 years of each other, gathered around a pretty red headed girl with her MacBook Pro open. It was like a scene out of period piece, children gathered their a mother reading a bedtime story. But instead, it was at JFK, in the waiting area of a Virgin America flight, the book was a MacBook and the woman wasn't their mother. Surreal.
The flight was fairly uneventful. I arrived in San Francisco to absolutely beautiful weather. After settling in and showering, I walked around North Beach, almost able to pretend I was in Italy. With the unseasonably warm weather, everyone was out and about. Despite having access to a million forms of entertainment, there's no denying that simply walking outside, laying out in the sun, talking to friends, eating and drinking coffee is usually the most enjoyable. And more than that, it's timeless. I could have taken that walk (minus listening to music from my iPhone), hundreds of years ago. Although it's most likely I wouldn't have seen a cat on a leash. Yes, only in San Francisco.
After going into stores I never had time to explore while in school, I had dinner by myself at a cafe where I read and sat outside. Note to self - arrange dinners before I get to my destination! I started a conversation with two older men sitting next to me. One was a taxi driver who was full of interesting stories. He seemed genuinely happy with his job and said it was way less stressful than being a cab driver in New York. Like for instance, if he wanted a break, he could go to Ocean Beach and just sit and watch the ocean. I learned that he went on less drug runs now for people. That if he doesn't trust someone, he'll drive around until they get the hint and leave. He told me about a successful woman who lived a bi-coastal lifestyle. He said that she seemed like a go-getter with endless amounts of energy. Is that the key to success? Anyway, it feels good to be back. I'd have these experiences in New York but think San Franciscians are more friendly and more likely to talk to strangers. It's obvious to me that I'll be happy where ever I end up and am enjoying the journey.
A New York Minute
I've been living on the Upper West Side since Friday night, cat-sitting for a friend. Kind of the perfect situation and I really lucked out. So far, I've lived in the East Village, Upper East Side and Chelsea. Hmm.. What's next? I'm not going to get into how confused I am. I'm pretty sure they put some sort of addictive substances in the New York water because there's no logical explanation as to why this city has such a strong pull on me when I was so gong-ho about San Francisco - At a time when the garbage hasn't been collected, it's 30 degrees and the curbs are full of murky, cold puddles. Oh yeah, I know.. it's the people. While I've met many cool people in San Francisco and I'm sure I have yet to meet many more, the fact remains that I have so many friends here and have built relationships in every area of my life during the five years that I've been here. Good thing I just have to leave things up to the job market, at this point.
So I was taking the 2 train which I rarely ever take - whole different crew from the 4/5/6 and noticed an interesting scene. It was about five, very charged, minutes on the subway ride that said so much about New York and what makes it so interesting. A (presumably) Orthodox woman was with her young child who was cranky and misbehaving in his stroller. He was about 3 years old and wouldn't sit still and kept accidentally kicking me. A black man with tattoos all over his body including tear marks near his eyes, started speaking to the pretty, young, blond woman, telling her to control her child. He was swearing at her and mumbling about white women not being able to control their children and how the children needed to be smacked around. Her response was that her son was tired and cranky and she sounded kind and exhausted, not wanting to get into an argument. I stood in the middle of them hoping it wouldn't escalate but wondering what I'd do or say if it did. On the way out, I looked back to see the mother with her son talking and laughing with another black woman who also had a child, presumably bonding and making friends over the situation.
New York is obviously incredibly diverse as a whole but each neighborhood is fairly segregated. I'm pretty sure my home town in Northern, NJ was more racially diverse than the Upper East Side but we came from similar places economically which at least united us in some way. But on the subway, there are people coming on from Brooklyn, to Manhattan, to Harlem, to the Bronx, & Queens. It unites us all. It's a place where stereotypes and frustrations all come out, where rich businessmen are tightly squeezed next to Bronx gang members, who are tightly squeezed next to Jewish mothers, who are tightly squeezed next to millions of other people that don't fit or defy stereotypes. So as addicting as the sound effects are to Angry Birds, turn down your phone and listen to what's around you. You may learn something.
Where Am I?
So I've been staying at my parent's house for the last week after spending nearly three months in San Francisco. It's been quite the whirlwind. I guess I'm fairly good at dealing with change. - I just keep myself busy and avoid thinking about it. So I've gone to being at school for three months in San Francisco where I was generally so busy that I rarely had lunch before 3pm, to staying at my parent's house where the only exercise I get is walking from the upstairs to the downstairs and back again. And thanks to the blizzard of 2010, I was forced to stay inside. Technically, I'm now unemployed, instead of being student, and my future is a big blank slate. Well, okay, it's not that dramatic. I at least know what I want to do.. just have no idea where I'm going to end up.
I'm looking for account strategy jobs in both NYC and San Francisco. Right now, most of my possessions are at my parent's house in NJ. And then I have a plane ticket back to SF on January 15th where I have an apartment and a few of my clothes. But other than that, there's a big question mark. How much do I bring back to San Francisco? What do I actually need? Where will I work? What's better - having an apartment in San Francisco but few friends or job contacts? Or having no apartment in NYC, most of my friends and a slew of job contacts?
Right now, I feel like I want to be independent and move across country. I wouldn't mind starting fresh. But the longer I'm in the NYC/NJ area, the more I reach into my past instead of moving forward. Is this detrimental? Healthy? Then again, is my past really that bad? When I left NYC in the early fall, I had so many people I cared for and genuinely liked that it was hard to schedule time with everyone. I felt like I was always "catching up" with people instead of hanging out. And it took me five years to get to that point where all of the people I spent time with were those who I genuinely respected and were a joy to be around. When I got to San Fransisco, I automatically had a crew of 30+ people to hang out with on any given day when I actually had time to hang out. What's going to happen now that that crew is back in their homes, around the world?
Today, I had my things moved out of storage and into my parent's house. After living at my parent's house for a week, I finally have a desk to work on (my novel hopefully), I finally have adequate space to house my clothing and book shelves for my books. While I was in San Francisco, I felt weightless, freed by my three suitcases worth of clothing and freed by my mobility. But now, as I look around my room, I sit at the 67 pound desk that I once hauled up my 3rd story walk up on St. Mark's and put together. I look at the 6ft tall bookshelf that I dragged ten blocks and up five flights of stairs. And the IKEA bureau that I was so excited to also carry up five flights of stairs after not having a bureau for four years. The truth is, it's all cheap furniture. None of it matches. But it's mine. I look through my books and remember the inspiration they gave me and I think about how as a collection, they show who I am or who I want to be. But does all this matter? They're only material items.
Having the bigger room, my sister is now the proud owner of my former bed. It sits in her room with a few of my bookshelves and with my bedding. It's kind of weird. I feel possessive of it, like I want it to be mine after not having slept on it for four months. It feels like home. But who cares. It's only a bed. So yeah, here I am, caught between my past and on the verge of stepping into a new future with a clean slate. How appropriate as we approach the end of a decade and I approach the end of my twenties...
Fate & A Long Winding Path To Account Planning
This week marked the first week of classes at Miami Ad School Account Planning Boot Camp in San Francisco. Yeah - don't try saying that one in one breath. In all honesty, I'm incredibly excited to finally get to work even though I'm slightly terrified about what's ahead. I started having too much time on my hands despite exploring and adjusting to the city. And for me, too much time usually results in boy drama and over thinking previous relationships. OY VEY. Which often leads to thinking about fate. Are we fated to meet a certain person? Follow a certain path? As a future Account Planner, it will be my job to make connections between ideas and behaviors; to find an insight and recognize that it's the right strategy. So what insight can I gather about myself regarding my own career?
When I was a child, I would insistently demand that my father explain the "why" to everything, which drove him crazy. In school, I had trouble with math and science mainly because it meant memorizing facts and making connections without entirely understanding the "why." I generate ideas. I've dabbled in a million creative ventures but could never see myself working only as an artist. I'm slightly obsessive, I'm curious, I like learning about anything and everything. In short, I was meant to be an account planner. Last year I went to a career coach and wrote down my values and what kind of job I wanted. Without knowing it - I described what an account planner does. And somehow my photography (an interest I pursued because I always need to educate myself) lead to working with an account planner. Finally, when people asked why I wanted to be an account planner, I'd respond with "It's the Truth in Advertising" which I've recently found out is the title to the "account planning" handbook. That being said, I think it's important to evaluate your life - take a step back and look at your own patterns. Meet new people, experience new things, keep a journal and you'll realize that maybe the answer you seek is already within you. You just have to find it.
All the Updates Fit to Print
After spending a week in Cape Cod with my family, then a few days laying on my parent's couch watching TV (I kid you not), I packed my stuff AGAIN and headed into the city. My attempt to cram 5 years worth of clothing and stuff in my childhood room failed miserably. Consequently, I had stuff in boxes and in my sister's closet - causing me to forget an entire wardrobe section when packing for New York. I swear I don't shop more than most women, but just have the bad tendency to buy 2 of same thing in different colors at the Gap when really, I should be buying one of something at, Banana. So off I went from complete laziness to hauling my suitcase and various bags onto the bus, into the subway, then lugging it up five flights of stairs in Chelsea where I stayed with a fitness instructor for the week. Talk about night and day, a complete change of pace and a perfect example of what living in the city means versus living in the burbs. When I wasn't working out with LITA Group, I jumped from meeting to meeting, attempting to work in Starbucks or cafes around the city.
Some highlights in no particular order:
- I had my first spa facial which I didn't find at all impressive. I felt it was just a means to push products and if for some reason I had $100 to spend, I'd choose a massage over a facial in a second.
- I brought my Chelsea living fitness instructor friend to a meeting on the Upper East Side (not by choice) to which she proclaimed "I forgot that there were straight men in New York."
- I made friends with a dog named Joe who's owner insisted he didn't take to humans easily.
- I spotted some fashion trends while walking around during fashion week. Short is in people!
- I had lunch with one old friend and one new where I asked my new friend all about drugs and gambling - all while unknowingly sitting behind a few cops.
- I attended another NY Tech Meetup, which was great all in all (Google Goggles - Hello?!) and the after party was just as fun.
- I walked around downtown enjoying the beautiful fall weather and was quickly reminded of how much I love New York. I LOVE NEW YORK. No, really... I love downtown. The Upper East Side was an experiment that I will not repeat. I guess you don't know how much you love something until you lose it.
Washington Square Park Street Performer from Molly A on Vimeo.
- And finally, I had dinner in "Bay Ridge Yo" with two friends. Now that is something I wouldn't mind repeating. It was an experience. Just what you'd expect and yet only minutes away from Manhattan. People were dressed to the nines for dinner although some women weren't wearing much at all. It was the restaurant owner's birthday and the evening entertainment was a fire swallowing dancer. When we asked him what he thought her mother must think, his response was "I'm sure it was either this or stripping."
Totally Self Indulgent Post & Reflections
I seemed to have forgotten that this is my PERSONAL blog.. so I'm going to try and take it back to its roots. This has been an interesting and productive day for the most part. I worked in the morning, and met with a fellow blogger/ Twitter friend for coffee. Hello Twitter friends! Wow. I can't stress enough how rewarding it is to make new connections in the most random ways. Like on Sunday, for instance, I made new friends while photographing people on the street and waiting for the Second Avenue bus in the rain.
I digress.
After walking half the length of Manhattan (long story), I met up with a few of my good friends. Actually, it was kind of awesome. They were all friends from different areas of my life who finally got to meet each other. We had 2 people with the same last name (unrelated) and two people with nearly the same first name. It would have been even more awesome if I wasn't so distracted by the fact that I ran into my ex AGAIN. If that weren't a weird enough coincidence, another friend who I haven't seen in years showed up at the restaurant to order takeout. More oddly still, he has the same name as my OTHER friend who I was hoping could have came, but who happened to be having dinner with my other ex boyfriend. You don't really need to follow all of that. I think the point is that New York is getting too small for me. Especially with my ability to spot familiar faces after seeing them for only a nano second.
Being that I'm moving in a week from the Upper East Side (holy cow! Freaking out! In denial about packing!), I thought it was appropriate that I reflected on where I was about a year ago before I moved Uptown. At the time, I was sick of the downtown crowds. Was going out way too much and eating the amazing fast food of the East Village. Post from last year: "Short story long, if it's not already obvious, I'm really looking forward to moving. There is no question that I need to change my lifestyle and develop more healthy habits. And a move is the fresh start that I obviously need. I can't wait to regularly run in Central Park, cook healthy meals with more than 4 inches of counter space, develop buns of steel from my 5th story walk up, NOT regularly stop at Criff Dog, Ray's Pizza, Pinkberry, Red Mango, etc. on my way home, save money, not stop at Solas... and get serious about applying to a master's program this fall. So yeah, feel free to hold me accountable and I'll happily entertain you with my progress. Maybe even be an inspiration.. but yeah, I may miss Pheobe the cat."
So where am I now, you ask? Well.. I still go out to eat way too much but can count on my fingers (and toes) how many times this year I've gone on a 5am, Solas bender. But I can also count the same number of times I've gone running in Central Park. I don't eat Red Mango or Pinkberry anymore mainly because I discovered I'm lactose intolerant. Eesh. Might have used up the enzymes on those treats! No Masters programs but at least I'm going to a "boot camp" in San Francisco in the Fall. Overall, I have changed a lot and I guess matured in my ways. And I'd have to say that I've probably experienced more changes while living on East 66th street than any other 1 year period in my life. It has been quite the roller coaster. One of the benefits of having only lived in an apartment for a year is that I'm not sentimental. Yes, I'll miss Java Girl, will miss my roommate, will miss my sunlit room (long pause.. awkward whistle...) BUT.. that's about it! On to the next adventure!
This post brought to you by procrastination: attempt #652 at working on my novel.
Philharmonics in the Park - Ponderings
This evening, I went to hear the Philharmonics in Central Park with family friends and learned a few things about myself. Okay, to be fair, the evening re-enforced what I already knew. Maybe my post is slightly influenced by the two glasses of wine I had but here it goes -
1. Life is beautiful
2. I love New York
3. And I can never become vegetarian or kosher simply because of the existence of prosciutto.
In other news, yesterday I endured two back to back 45 minute spin classes with Carl at Crunch. Yes, that spin class. The one I've gone to for about 4 years now where everyone knows my name (I'm famous, or infamous!) and I wonder if this will be the class that I finally fall off my bike and pass out. But alas, I did not! Apparently after 70 minutes of spin, you kind of get into a zone and can't feel your legs anymore. Hello endorphins! And hello enlightenment. I realize that Carl's class is a metaphor for life: it never gets easier, but if you tough it out, work hard and have a positive attitude, you'll not only get through it - but will be stronger because of it.
And on that, I bid good night. Peace, Love & Happiness.
Letters to Juliette
Yeah.. I saw it. I spent this very rainy Tuesday running from place to place.. outside... Another pair of Aldo shoes has bitten the dust. Or rather... drowned. So at 5 when I finally returned home, I was slightly hesitant to leave my apartment again to meet up with a friend for a movie across town. I had gone out last night to a Music Unites Event. Awesomeness. And got home at 11:30ish, did not sleep a wink, then woke up at the crack of dawn to get to an AWNY 8am meeting. After the meeting, I spent a very productive morning working at V Bar on Sullivan. It's still by far my favorite work spot and worth the trip. Being in a quiet, open windowed café with classical music and great coffee definitely beats having Oscar nibble at my toes for attention. Speaking of, what's that I feel?!
Then headed up to Times Square to have lunch with the pops at Eatery. Hello Asian Chicken salad! Actually, everything on the menu looked amazing. Since I was in the area, I decided to check out a bead store I've been meaning to get to. Found a bunch of others. Bought some beads which I haven't done in about 5 years. Holy crap. I feel the passion for jewelry making. Now if only I had a little more room in my apartment and my schedule. Then went on a long, puddle filled journey to find a pair of Hunter Boots that ended in complete failure. Hence my drowned shoes. Bloomingdales had a pair of deep purple boots but I actually felt like it would clash with all the other purple in my wardrobe. And people would think, like.. er, I have an obsession with purple or something.
Oh.. so here we are! Back to the movie. It was totally cheesy. Just as expected. But completely delightful and just what I needed. Nothing like watching a movie that takes place in Tuscany, about finding love while sitting in a Times Square movie theater, as a recently single gal on a cold, rainy Tuesday. It reminded me what I really want in life again. Not that I needed reminding. Love. Sun. Good food. Wine. And Good conversation. To top things off, I found myself surrounded by a group of 20 or so young Italians while walking to the F train. I sign? Why yes. I would think so. Now the question is, can I find these things in New York City?
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| Yeah, apparently they have a love/ hate relationship. No. not adorable at all. |
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| Rachel Platten from the Music Unites concert at the Cooper Hotel. She's going to be a star. |
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| And couple walking through Times Square today. I got nothing. You? |
Sunday Night Ponderings
As I sat in my dark, cold apartment on this rainy Sunday evening with my roommate and two cats (post yoga at Crunch!), I briefly considered going back on an internet dating site... and then quickly came back to my senses - realizing that I should probably focus my energy searching job matches instead of love matches. And then I checked my calendar, remembering that all my evenings are jam packed up until next week and that apparently, being unemployed, networking and working on my own ventures is more time consuming than being employed and in a relationship. But I can't complain! Hmmm. I ponder.
In no particular order, a visual guide to what I've been up to when I'm not networking, attending amazingly inspiring and informative AWNY events, sitting in cafés job searching, working with my friend to help her PR business in the social media realm, reading business books, etc. This is for you mom.
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| Under the cherry blossoms in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Saturday April 24thAdd caption |
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| More cherry blossoms (I think) in Central Park |
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| Central Park |
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| I have no words. Okay, I do. Thomas and Oscar love each other. |
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| Sunday pancake brunch with the roommate = roommate love. |
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| Oscar, making catnaps sexy since April 2010. |
Roller Coaster
Wow, I've had a whirlwind of a week. I felt like at the beginning of the week, I had no hope in finding an apartment- Was completely frustrated by the process, freaking out, and exhausted. And by Wednesday, my luck changed. I'm signing the lease for a 2 bedroom in the East 60s tomorrow. Craziness. My whole "New York identity" is wrapped up in being an East Village/ downtown girl. Actually, I don't even know what "New York identity" means. I've been literally wondering and pondering all this for months as you probably know. Brooklyn vs. Manhattan, Uptown vs. Downtown. And now it's done. I have absolutely enjoyed my time here but have walked and explored nearly every street there is to explore downtown. I'm looking forward to a healthier, more quiet lifestyle. Maybe regularly running through Central Park. Walking up 5 flights of stairs! Cooking in my new, nice and decent sized kitchen! Not being tempted by the 5 frozen yogurt places, pizza joints, fast food and booze. Knowing that I'll have to take a cab or subway and then 5 flights of stairs to get home, thus curbing my temptation for 1 last drink. Or staying out late. I'm soo excited.
And having sunlight stream through my window.
But yeah, holy fucking, freaking, shitting crap. I can't believe Michael Jackson is dead. This is unbelievable. Even though he's been completely out of the spotlight for nearly 10 years and might as well be dead, this comes as a great shock. Especially since he died in preparation for his comeback. It definitely seems like those who have such an exceptional impact in our lives have all died young- Monroe, Kennedy, MLK, Princess Diana, John Lennon.. And in these cases, I can truly say that it was not their premature death that made them more special, but that they had a significant impact already while alive. And now we will forever remember them for their virtues- before they got old and feeble, made mistakes or faded into old age.
WOW. Let us please all pause and appreciate how precious and fleeting life is. How ironic if MJ's death is one that can unite us all.. His music certainly can.