Chapter 64: Titan.

we've all learned in greek mythology that at one point, titans ruled the land. these creatures were giant in size and their power seemed absolute. their steps shook the highest of mountains and their voices caused the winds to blow. they were seemingly indestructible as there was no one in the world who was as great as they were. each titan was ruler over a natural element, such as the ocean or the moon or memory, and each ruled well. thus, the age of the titans is known as the golden era because it was an era of simplicity and goodness.

despite what they seemed to be, even titans could fall. it took the strength and guile of zeus, his mother, and many other beings to take them down, but they did. and down the titans went, deep into the nadir that is known as tartarus.

i'm not sure if anyone today can say that they have lived in a golden era of anything. we are each plagued by the terrors of society in our own ways. but one thing we can all say for sure is that today, a titan has fallen.

this one started as a boy and grew into a titan before our eyes. his talent was giant in size and his power over people seemed absolute. his dance steps shook the highest mountains of racism and segregation, and his voice caused the winds of change to blow. he was seemingly indestructible as there is and was and will never be anyone who is as great as he. his natural element was his song, his voice; he ruled it exceptionally.

and today, he fell. but unlike those greek titans who fell down, this titan managed to fall up. up to own his rightful place among the stars so that one day, far from now, stories and legends will be told of his greatness. one day, people will bask in the light of his talent. one day, someone will lose his faith and look up for guidance. and on that day, he will remember that anything is possible.

RIP Michael Jackson. May he rest in peace among the stars.

Chapter 57: Today.

someone was lost today. this shouldn't be surprising as someone is lost everyday, nearly every minute, nearly every second. the difference is when that someone is so special, is a light to so many around us.

someone was cherished and beloved. someone made everyone smile with his really dumb jokes that i didn't understand half the time but laughed at anyway. he always looked so pleased when he said those jokes that i couldn't help but laugh to appease that expectant face. someone would always attempt to make light of any situation, regardless of how serious. this was especially frustrating when i was trying to teach someone how to dance in a performance that was 2 weeks away.
someone was a terrible dancer.

someone was a son, a brother, a child, my nephew. someone was a best friend to so many people. i've always wondered how many people would come to my funeral; there will never be this many. i wanted to tell someone that i was jealous; he was so popular. someone would say, "please, sherene chechi, look who's talking, miss popular-dance-teacher-hottie." again, i wouldn't get it, but i would laugh.

someone was so happy, always. even at those times when you think that you can never be happy, right before you are about to die, even then. he was happy. the only thing that made him sad was that this mother would be sad, and that he wouldn't be there to comfort her. despite the fact that all she would want at that moment was him and that all he would want at that moment would be to comfort her, it would be impossible.

someone lives in everyone he touched. when anyone is up late on aim, comforting someone else who has a test tomorrow, someone is there. when anyone is so warm and kind and so full of life, someone is there. and when anyone makes a really dumb comment that i will not even begin to understand, someone is there.

rip selvin
05/11/1990-08/23/2008