People who were around in the 60s know vividly where they were when they found out that Kennedy was killed. Same thing with 9-11, and now, same thing with Michael Jackson.
It was 6:43PM yesterday evening and I was on a Manhattan bound R train.
The conductor got on the PA system at Prospect Avenue and announced the very sad news. “Folks, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I felt you all need to know this. Michael Jackson has died.”
The news shocked everyone, including me.
As if that wasn’t unexpected enough, something even more unexpected happened – I heard the soft voice of the conductor come overhead.
“It’s close to miiiiiiiiiidnight”
Yes, the voice on the PA system was singing. Then the girl sitting across and to the right of me started in.
“and something evil’s lurking in the dark”
More and more, more people began singing together.
Soon enough the 20 or so people in my subway car were singing Thriller along with the conductor.
It was magical.
Yes, I was in the middle of a CPR class when one of the trainees got a phone call and he announced it to the rest of us. Sad,that while he may have seemed weird to some, he’s a great talent gone. And, just like he overshadowed Lionel Richie’s music in the 80′s, he will now overshadow the death of another well-known American Icon Farrah Fawcett. But such is the nature of life.