First of all, B.E.T., go to your room and don’t come out and until we tell you to come out…

Our seats ended up being on the far end from the stage but right next to the tunnel where all the celebs were going (they saved the floor for the VIPs for the most part).  So briefly we were at most 10 feet away from John Mayer, Kim and the Kardashians, Kobe, Magic, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Shawn and Marlon Wayans, Robert Townsend, Dionne Warwick and a lot more famous folk that escape my mind right now.  At first it was cool, then the…how should I say this?  Well the people who clearly saw this as a ‘once in a lifetime chance to be that close to a famous person’ crowd starting pulling out their cameras and posting up by the tunnel.  And this was before any of us really knew how much of a ‘memorial’ this really was going to be.

My friend and I were debating this before it got underway, but when they brought in the casket and the choir started singing, the tone was set.  There would be no dancing or moonwalking today.  I’m sure the folks who were still holding out hope this would be a straight up and down tribute concert were heavily disappointed.  I still have a head cramp, but this is all still fresh in my mind so I wanted to get my thoughts out while they’re still fresh…

Rev. Al:  Whatever suspicions I have about you from time to time, you even had me standing and clapping today.  I’m pretty sure I even yelled out PREACH once during your speech.  You do your thing well…

Stevie brought out the first set of tears (for me) personally.  A beautiful song from someone who obviously knew Michael from his earliest days.

John Mayer:  How dare you.  You were supposed to play ‘Beat It’ or ‘Dirty Diana’ or something rock.  How dare you play my song, my song, so beautifully.  That’s when I completely lost it.  After the song, my friend looked at me and I told her (in complete sincerity), “I’m done.”

Magic:  You all heard the story.  I don’t know if the television cameras caught this, but for the first time I can ever remember, even Kobe had a complete sincere ‘THIS Negro!’ look on his face when Magic was telling the KFC story.  That’s what kind of day it was.

On a side note, I’ve said this before, but man my people now how to worship!  There were too many knuckleheads in there sure, but most of the crowd seemed to be genuine MJ fans, and a lot of black people.  It was church in Staples Center today my friends… 

Jennifer Hudson:  Going back to Dreamgirls you always put a smile on my face when I see you hit the stage/screen.  And I’ve heard you blow harder, but it was a memorial so you played it well for the circumstances.

Brooke:  Until the end of the memorial, I thought she humanized Michael as much as anyone has in his later years.  Very good tribute.

Usher:  Man, I got love for you, but Lord knows I can’t call myself a ‘fan’ of yours.  Today was probably the first and only time we’ll be nearly eye to eye on something.  Fitting tribute to your mentor.

Marlon:  Completely tore me down again.  Those two were always the two little ones and it showed in his speech.  I never had blood brothers but I have friends now who might as well be brothers to me, so that pain of losing someone who you grew up with and who watched you grow into a man is very scary to me.

 Paris:  Lord, Lord, Lord.  If on some level you couldn’t feel for that I don’t know what to tell you.  I really don’t.  We’ll all see what happens next for those kids, but God willing they’ll be raised by someone looking out for their best interests.

I’ve got my program and my ticket set aside, I’m about to cut off my wristband.  I haven’t decided where I’m going to store them yet, but it will be somewhere special.  That memorial service was so much better than I ever imagined.  We all should get such closure and such respect from our loved ones in the end. 

I’m still drained.  I need to rest now.  God bless Mike.  You’ll definitely be missed.