I found out about it at work today. One of my co-workers popped out of her cubicle and said "Michael Jackson died." All of us turned to look at her with shock and disbelief. I jumped online, and there it was.

I came home, turned on MTV and danced with my little girl to Michael Jackson songs for a half hour. I didn't want to watch all the news reports and the play by play as they took his body away. I just wanted to dance and remember. Yes, there were definitely times when we wondered just what you were thinking, Michael, but we always, always loved you.

"We're sending out a major love, and this is our message to you. The planets are lining up, we're bringing brighter days. They're all in line, waiting for you. You're just another part of me."

Peace.

Boy. We might need to start calling June the cruelest month. David Carradine died earlier this month, then Ed MacMahon, now Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson on the same day.

I was probably 6 or 7 when Charlie's Angels first came on the air. I even had the dolls. I always wanted to "be" Kelly when playing, 'cause everyone else always wanted to be Jill (Farrah Fawcett's character). Plus, I'm about the furthest thing from blonde you can find.

It's amazing to hear that she was 62. That's the age my mother would have been if she hadn't died of cancer at the age of 48. God Bless. I guess we just think that those people that we grew up idolizing aren't ever supposed to get sick or old or die. It makes me feel old. It makes me feel very, very sad.

Happy Father's Day

To my husband on his first Father's Day. The best daddy for my little girl, no doubt.

Yes. This is early. Better early than late. I'm still a relatively new mommy, and I need my sleep.

Your Tax Dollars At Work...

I saw this a couple of months ago at my husband's old high school. Doesn't give you a lot of hope for the school system when the administration either can't spell correctly themselves, doesn't catch the error before the sign goes up, or doesn't care to fix the spelling on a sign that goes in front of a place of learning. It's the name of the city! I mean, come on!

In Good News...

President Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a federal judge from New York, to the Supreme Court. If confirmed by the Senate, she will fill David Souter's spot on the court and will be the first Latino Justice on the Supreme Court. Boriqua!

Here's a profile on Judge Sotomayor: BBC News. Profile: Sonia Sotomayor and here's hoping that this decision will go smoothly.

Bad News...

Just heard. CA Supreme Court will uphold gay marriage ban, but will allow the marriages of the 18,000 same-sex couples who wed before the ban took effect to stand. I wish the court would get a backbone - especially the justice who wrote the decision to allow gay marriage. He doesn't have to worry about being voted out of office, so why the switch in opinion now? Especially when the vote to ban same-sex marriage failed by a very close 52-48, and the Proposition was so confusing that I had to keep reminding myself that to vote "no" on Prop. 8 was to uphold same-sex marriage as opposed to getting rid of it. I have to believe that other people in favor of gay rights might have made that mistake and not realized it until it was too late.

I am very disappointed and ashamed of California. My home state has legalized gay marriage, but CA, which is supposed to be so progressive, and had a chance to prove it - failed.

States that allow gay marriage:
Connecticut
Vermont
Massachusetts
Iowa
Maine

Marriage Equality

In about an hour, a decision will be made regarding Prop. 8. I am praying for the original California Supreme Court decision to be upheld. Someone on KRON 4 pointed out that for the court to rule in favor on the measure tat passed last November (against gay marriage) would set a dangerous precedent wherein any voting majority could do away with the rights of any minority. Didn't we (sort of) learn that lesson before?

The court also can't half-step. They can't say that there should be no gay marriage and still uphold the same-sex marriages that have happened. And, if that were to happen, it would be devastating. I can't imagine someone telling me that me marriage is no longer valid. Think of it this way. What if there were no 13th amendment, and I, as a Black woman born in the North, would no longer be considered free under the Emancipation Proclamation? How can we give people rights (rights that they should have had in the first place) and then take them away?

Yes, marriage is sacred. Yes, it should not be entered into lightly. And, yes, it should be between any two PEOPLE, regardless of gender, who love each other and intend to care for each other be together for life.