Funerals and Friends

Dear Diary,

So, Tuesday was pretty awesome. Although in slightly different measures. To celebrate Lisa's upcoming birthday, she had decided on the aforementioned "double date" (which I got stupidly excited about - never been on one before!) at a gorgeous pub near town.

Sadly, I made the huge and almost catastrophic mistake of getting ready whilst watching Michael Jackson's funeral Live on TV. Have you ever watched the funeral of your idol whilst preparing for a night out? If I can impart any wisdom at all, it is simply: DON'T. What a nightmare. Speeches, tributes, and Stevie Wonder later, and I was crying my eyes out - with contact lenses to insert, make-up to apply, and only 5 minutes to do so before Joe picked me up. And, given his reaction to my reaction, I somehow didn't think he'd understand.....

The funeral, as it happens, was gorgeous. Well, it was also massively over-the-top, huge, potentially gaudy but spectacular; everything we'd come to expect from him, I guess. The gold coffin, Queen Latifah's speech, and the performers were marvellous (apart from Mariah, but I generally can't stand her anyway). Shaheen did Britain proud, Jermaine was heart-achingly wonderful, and this performance from Usher had me sobbing like a baby....... Mind you, I was right - every MJ song that I predicted would be played/performed was done.

I still don't know how I feel about the whole thing, to be honest. It's incredibly hard to believe he's not actually in the world anymore - and somehow, seeing his funeral, and the gold coffin lying there, knowing his body was actually in it and not up dancing around made it all more real than it's felt so far. It's such a crushing feeling, knowing that we've lost someone so wonderful, and frankly, the idea that I'll never get to see him Live - or that the world will never get to see just how amazing his comeback would have been, kills me.

We've truly been robbed, it's like the world itself has been pulled out from under us - and now we have to have a world without him. I can't imagine it, to be honest. No matter how long we went without hearing from him, it was always strangely comforting to know that he was just THERE, around somewhere, biding his time, or just doing his thing. What breaks my heart the most is how he died with millions of critics taking bets, people in pubs up and down the country spectating how he probably "wouldn't make it through 50 gigs, or even turn up." It's so sad that he couldn't prove them wrong, as we know he would've. It's strange - Mum can't understand why I'm upset about it, because I never met him. One word: So? You don't have to meet someone for them to touch your life.

I've been trying to write a poem about it, but am struggling so far. I really seem to have lost my poetry groove this last year. Oh well. Maya Angelou pretty much said it all for me (see here).

ANYHOW, as to Lisa's night - it was fantastic. Managed to pull myself together in time and rocked up holding a big smiley face birthday balloon (rather weirdly, I'm not afraid of helium ones) and her present - some "Lisa-style" earrings and a Chocolate cookbook. Was fun to see Mike again, and all introductions were made for Joe's benefit. Was slightly terrified of any awkardness but the evening was really good fun; flowing conversation (ranging from fetishes to politics to celebritites we'd kill), gorgeous food and a whole lotta fun. Lisa and Mike are moving into a sexy London flat pretty soon, so was awesome hearing about that - not to mention angling for an invite (*cough*)

So, went home feeling full and happy. I worked a shift on Wednesday. And according to Lisa's own blog - Joe has the Stamp of Approval! Sweeeeeeeeet.

Today finds me in something of a tizz - it's my Unit 1 Sign Language exam in a few hours and I haven't done a single jot of revision or practise. I mean, it comes pretty easy to me anyway, but still! I should've PRACTISED!!! Why the HELL didn't I practise with Joe??!

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Current Mood: nervous
Current Music: "Poker Face" - Lady Gaga