'cause this is thriller

the king of pop's recent death has prompted much thoughtful conversation and interest around here. several times a week the request is made to watch yet another dazzling youtube snippet of the great one's unparalleled dance skills. mason is absolutely taken by this guy. later on i'll let him discover on his own just how strange and creepy mj actually became over the years, but until that happens, i shall allow the mystique to exist.

both jeremiah and mason's eyes pop when they witness michael's spins, pelvic thrusts and seemingly disjointed hips-shoulders-legs. i have to admit, dead or not, he is amazing to behold. the guys will practice their rudimentary moon walk skills in the accommodating aisles of newflower market, next to the frozen tempeh burgers and shoestring sweet potato french fries. i think michael would have approved. they are even more energized in their mimicry when i alert them to the cc camera overhead. i can tell there is glove envy. i can sense their pooled desire to move the way the man in the mirror was magically able to.

jeremiah loudly exclaimed the other day (well, because most things he says come out as exclamations), "Halloween is almost here! Mason, what are you going to be? What kind of costume will you create this year? Not another robot, I hope. Remember that one you and daddy did a few years ago? It sure got you a lot of candy, but you couldn't bend your legs so well. No more robots I think. Or at least you'll need to upgrade the design with flexible knee joints. Just consider these modifications." mason was able to nap while jeremiah got it off his chest, but with any luck, these sound suggestions likely did reach him subliminally.

after a couple day's consideration, mason announced for his costume this year, he wanted to incorporate a glove. hmmm, the influence has begun. but he needed to make the glove appropriately scary, naturally. he discussed materials options -- affixing blades, spikes, broken glass, etc, and i aborted each of his glorious brainchildren, much to his disappointment. realizing he wouldn't win this one, he flipped entirely and came up with the idea of one jeweled glove, not unlike michael jackson's, and an enormous, horrible, ghastly, duh duh dunnnnnn papier mache' hand. with a huge thumb. of course. it's so anti-carny. i like it.

it never ceases to amaze what little kids find scary, interesting, mimic worthy, silly, yummy, comforting. the thing is, despite all drawing board discussions, they'll both wind up being ghouls, wraiths, undead knights or some sort of black cloaked hooded hodgepodge. these are perennially safe fall-backs. there is typically a twist, though, something to keep it fresh. i like that part the most because it reminds me of my traveling sales ghost costume way back in the 4th grade. i really wanted to do the ghost thing, but also felt compelled to carry a briefcase and wear necktie and borsalino. i sold quite a few fuller brushes that night.

but thank you, michael jackson. if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change, although i did prefer considerably your "Off the Wall" skin tone and nose. but, you were hell bent on letting the madness and music get to you. i still like your advice, which i eagerly pass on to my kids constantly-- "gotta straighten up your act and boogie down." always with the boogie-ing down. and the papier mache' thumbs.