It actually began October 18th, when -
“53-year-old Michael Rico stood quietly outside the Los Angeles County Courthouse. Though the weather was hot, and court had already begun, Rico calmly remained, holding a signed photo of Jackson and a sign reading, ‘Soldiers of Love.’ ” -CNN Blog
For those who may not know, that’s my artwork he’s holding there! It was taken from this post I made in February 2010. I was so happy to find that someone had opted to use it outside the courthouse. It felt like a piece of me was standing there with him. Of course I know that all of us Soldiers of Love send our hearts out there during this time, in support of Michael and his family. I just love how connected we are. How the love reaches and is passed on from one person to another.
This is what brings me to yesterday’s surprise, when I got news that Katherine and LaToya returned to the courthouse to pick up some justice banners from the fans. Can you see where this is going? They had a good look over everything, and chose just a few to take home with them. My piece of art was in that few.
See all photos here.
I just can’t tell you how wonderful this feels. To know that my piece stirred up something within them enough to want to take it home. A creation made from the love that Michael stirred up in my own soul…made it back to them. It’s just beautiful.
Where to start.
These past several months I’ve had to push myself in a million different directions at once. My life is in a time of great shift and rearranging…which has left me with hardly any time to relax. Granted, I’ve had lots of time on my hands…but even in my free moments my mind is racing toward the finish line. Must…get…to finish line….
I think of Michael here and there…reminiscing on the beautiful feelings I once had. They are in me still, but the stress and weight of the load I’ve had to bear has made them not as easy to access as they once were. I guess you could say I’ve been in an area with bad reception. I could turn the dial but there was just too much crap around me, interfering with the connection.
But oh, that Michael, he stayed on the line. He always stays on the line. When amidst my frenzy, he took it upon himself to put out a signal I couldn’t miss. I like to think it was his way of letting me know he was still there. Still so lovingly there. God love him.
So, I wanted to put out of a signal of my own. I took the time and finished a piece of art that’s been gathering pixel dust for well over a year. It’s actually how my piece “Revolutionary” began. Something small and fun, but when shared, will hopefully continue to permeate the message of who he was. The king of love… The King of Hearts. You still remain in mine, Michael.
I’ve made this piece available for purchase in my shop, if anyone is interested.
This brings me to another quick announcement!
Many of my works are now available on iPhone cases!
Fun fun, eh? Head over to the shop page to check them out. :)
With love,
~Amy
So, I woke up at 4:00am yesterday morning with an odd and questionable stomach ache. Tried to ignore it…couldn’t…so I dragged my butt out of bed, took some pills, and poked around online for a minute to see if the pain would subside. A minute later, after viewing the latest post on MLP – as part of the “things I learned from MJ” project – it hit me. I was pregnant…with a new song! Lol. No wonder my stomach hurt. Either someone reeally wanted me to write this song and thus found the only way to wake me up…or, like a pregnancy, the song was just sitting there inside me wanting to be born. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve awoken in the middle of night with a tummy ache that turned into a song. I must have some kind of internal song alarm.
Anyway, inspired by Michael once again – I present my new work of art…which turned out to be an extension or rather a mini-version of my poster “Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Michael Jackson”. Written and recorded yesterday. I hope it is enjoyed. <3
“I Learned From You”
(many thanks to Debbie for putting in the clips of MJ next to the video for me!)
LYRICS:
I am a better person than I used to be
I am the shadow of a light that shines on me
Gentle and kind
Angel in disguise
Truth among the lies
That is what you are
If I am wise, it’s because you have helped me grow
If I know wrong from right, it’s ’cause you showed me which way to go
And there’s nothing else I really need to know
Because…
Everything that I need to know, I learned from you
And all the good in my heart and soul
Was sparked by all that you do
Well everybody has demons
But you’ve taught mine a thing or two
Opened them to a feeling, like I never knew….until you
There isn’t any mountain I can’t overcome
You showed me how to move them all with love
Gentle and kind
Humble all the time
Beauty lies inside
I learned that from you
With a thoughtful mind, in your footsteps I will go
If I seem to shine, it’s from standing in your afterglow
And there’s no other place worth the weight of gold
Because…
Everything that I need to know, I learned from you
And all the good in my heart and soul
Was sparked by all that you do
Well everybody has demons
But you’ve taught mine a thing or two
Opened them to a feeling, like I never knew….until you
I am a better person than I used to be…
………………………………………..
© 2011 Amy Grace – www.amygrace.com
I didn’t think I was going to post anything today. I have the songs…the art…my words…but I didn’t want to “remember” this day. I wanted it to just pass on by like any other. In fact, as distracted and busy as I’ve been lately, I thought for sure it would.
But then I woke up.
There is an energy in the air that cannot be missed, and one Michael Jackson that can. Oh how we miss you, Michael. I can sense not just my own, but so many others sadness over losing you this day, 2 years ago. Tears well in my eyes just writing this. Just thinking about you today, hurts.
I know that you are near, I know that you are ok, I know that we will forever be connected and that most days I celebrate the sheer beauty that is this connection and that is your soul – because it fills me such warmth and happiness. But today, I can’t help but weep, again, for your physical departure from us. What a mission you had. A fragment in time that seemed so short…and IS, in the big scheme of things. And what a body! Such a beautiful body. You were magic in physical form. Surely as there must have been joy in graduating from your gifted yet difficult earthly life – for those who experienced how truly special it was, there is also much sadness to be felt in seeing it end. We celebrate you but miss you always, dear Michael. Always.
Forever in our hearts, minds, and souls. Keep shining, until we meet again.
The familiar urge…while designing something completely different – to turn my attention to Michael and create something else. It began as a sense of need born from love, to really express the TRUTH of Michael’s soul. This feeling led my mind to reflect on all the lies and twisted media frenzy surrounding Michael’s life – and death… which led me to reflect on the trial, which led me to really think about his legacy and how we, his soldiers of love, are part of that. How our actions and words, especially in the way we respond to the highs AND lows of news surrounding Michael and the trial… really reflects on what we’ve learned from him. And with that, it came to me. So simple, yet strong in it’s statement. A good reminder to the world, and ourselves even, that when we support Michael – we support and stand for all that he stood for. So let’s tell em!
May we always set an example, by Michael’s.
x~Amy
