Mike and Zombies
I tried to put Michael Jackson's death into perspective for Gabriel and Hannah. "He was a huge star. Oh, and he did a video with dancing zombies."
This got Gabriel's attention. He has been trying to impress me with his love of all things scary lately, so Hannah, Gabriel, and I sat and watched VH1 replay the short version of Thriller. Hannah looked up from her toys in a few parts, but seemed mostly unimpressed. Gabriel watched transfixed by the dancing zombies.
And Gabriel had questions. "What made him into a zombie?"
"I think dancing with zombies."
"I think it was the water," Gabriel countered. "It turned him into a zombie, then back, then a zombie again."
The kids and I were headed out to a muffin shop we have nearby, meeting up with family and looking at a classic car show in the parking lot. I loaded my mp3 player with Michael Jackson songs for the ride, and we headed out.
Hannah gave several clap approvals to "Man in the Mirror" and "Gotta Be Starting Something." Gabriel perked up when Thriller came on, and I explained how big a horror movie actor Vincent Price had been. At the end of Thriller, when Vincent Price cackles, Hannah burst out laughing.
Somehow, somewhere, Gabriel must have made a connection. For most of the day, he has been saying things like "The kids at the park were talking about Mike, too." and "I like Mike and zombies."
I'm not sure why Gabriel and Michael Jackson are on such friendly terms, but I think it's cool that he and Hannah had a chance, albiet belatedly, to hear, clap to, and watch his music today. A little piece of my childhood celebrated with the kids.
-- Dad
