My mother was a huge fan. When I was younger, the music of the Jackson 5 as well as your solo work was omnipresent. During the holidays, your and your brother's Christmas album was a mainstay. And like so many other '80s babies, I played the Rockin' Robin handgame. I can't much think of my childhood without thinking about you.

I can remember my first moment of infatuation with you was upon seeing the video for Leave Me Alone. I was mesmerized by the elephant man's bones. The dogs in suits confused and fascinated me. The chomping teeth were enthralling. I watched that video as often as I possibly could, back when MTV actually played music and were semi-respectable. My mother rented Moonwalker for me, on several occasions. It was good.

My first true experience with your magic was during the Dangerous era. No matter who you were or what you liked, you watched the premiere for Black or White. It was breathtaking, the kind of attention you commanded from everyone and everything. Remember the Time? Amazing. I spent many hours with my friend at the time, practicing the dance from the video and wondering how you managed to do it. And your hair, if I may say, was pretty on point. I'm still trying to figure out how it was so nice.

Upon aging, I drifted. I regret this. Teens, as you may well know, are cruel beings, and I wanted to fit in. However, once I reached college and decided to be my own person, I was back, albeit not with as much force as I had when I was younger. My mother got sick, and some days all we did was sit around listening to J5 music because she couldn't do anything else. In 2006,  she was diagnosed with cancer. They gave her three months to live. This was unacceptable, and she decided she'd beat that. With faith, love, and music, she survived a full fourteen months after the initial diagnosis. She passed away December 15, 2007.

I was beyond inconsolable for many many months. Sometime earlier this year, though, the clouds began to break a bit. I started to think that she wouldn't want me to give up. I started listening to my favorite song of yours, Human Nature, and I started to feel a bit better. Over the months I became more like myself, and it felt good. In early June, you came back into my mind and I began obsessively listening to your songs and watching your videos on YouTube. I don't really know why; it was just a feeling I got. Imagine my surprise, then, to receive news that you had passed on. I felt the same kind of weight on my chest as I had when my mother died. To me, you are family. It was like I had to start all over again.

This time, though, I bounced back a bit more quickly. I've been immersing myself in your music and videos for the past two months, and I don't regret this at all. I've vowed to become a better person because of how good a person you were. My friends and I are planning to take on the media, on your behalf. It's all because of you. Thank you, and I love you, and I hope that wherever you are, you're at peace.