You could say today is just like any other day. It sort of is actually. The sun is shining, I'm struggling to stay awake at work, and I'll be going out tonight. But today is one of the emptiest days of my life even though it's just like all the others. Part of my youth died today. Part of what brought me so much joy as a kid is no longer with us. The days of me dancing in front of my mirror have always been a thing of the past, but now it seems like there was no purpose to them anymore. I'm not saying it doesn't have meaning to me any longer, but it's hard to fathom that the reason I was dancing in front of the mirror is gone.

Michael Jackson's passing is a shock. A complete and utter blow to me and many people. This is a man that you thought would live forever. There was no way the King of Pop could die, at least not this soon. Even if he was the brunt of another joke or being slandered by the media, he was still with us. It's painful to sit down and realize that MJ is actually dead. He brought us Thriller, Billie Jean, Beat It, and so many other epic songs and dance moves. Sure, I might not have even been born yet, or maybe even too young to witness MJ in his absolute prime, but that's the beauty of his work. It's timeless. His music will last forever even though Michael has not. Generations of people will still listen to his music and his music will still be loved throughout the world. I'm not exaggerating when I call him the greatest entertainer of our time and a complete global icon. He was that special. The kids in my small Japanese village of only 3500 people knew of MJ's passing when I came into work this morning. That's how far his impact reached. Despite all the accusations and changes MJ went through, he was still the best entertainer ever. He made people happy through his music, and that's all that matters to me.

It's been rough trying to cope with MJ's passing. I haven't cried, but it feels like there's a part of me missing. I just feel empty. I'm sure a lot of you do as well. MJ played a big role in my life. I remember the first Walkman I got for Christmas one year. Guess what tape accompanied that bad boy? That's right. Michael Jackson's Bad. We'll always have his music, but it's depressing knowing that the man singing on the record is no longer here. I still can't believe it. Michael Jackson is dead. Obviously we should be celebrating his life and music, but there's still that sad, empty feeling deep down in my body. My youth had always been slowly slipping away, but I still had a grip on it. I'm only hanging on to it by a thread now that MJ is gone. I can only hope that wherever MJ is right now, he's sitting on a throne worthy of the King of Pop. Rest easy, MJ. We all miss you.