Like much of the world, I was sad to hear about the sudden death of music legend Michael Jackson. We have watched his career during the good and the bad, from the weird to the even weirder times.

I have always been a big fan of Michael Jackson and his music. As a child of the '80s, I can remember vividly dancing in my room to hits like "Beat It," "PYT" and "Billie Jean." My room was decorated with Michael Jackson posters carefully extracted from the latest "teen bop" magazines. On Christmas in 1984, I remember my two most prized presents were the Michael Jackson and E.T. action figures.

Not only did I enjoy Michael Jackson's music, but I loved and anticipated his music videos. As a child, I didn't have access to MTV, but there used to be a similar program for non-cable subscribers that featured the latest music videos. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Beat It" music videos blew my mind! I had never seen anyone who danced so well.

I have rhythm, but I never could imitate his moves quite as swiftly. I had a childhood friend who would watch those music videos and within a week, she knew the whole choreography. She would try to teach the steps, but I learned early on that I had a harder time in that arena. I looked forward to seeing more of MJ's videos and the new dance moves he would introduce.

The news coverage and television specials the past week-plus have brought back a lot of those childhood memories. Like how my mother would allow me to stay up past my bedtime on a school night so that I could see his performance on the Grammys, Motown Anniversary Special or American Music Awards. I've never had the opportunity to see him live, but those programs allowed me to have a front-row view.

I used to think it was crazy the way people of my mother's generation memorialized Elvis after his death. After Michael Jackson's passing, I can understand it more. I imagine that there will be an increase in Michael Jackson impersonators. I have already heard talk of turning his Neverland property into a Graceland-like attraction.

I'm not as big on celebrity admiration as I was in my youth, but his loss did have an effect on me. Jackson's light had become dull over the past 10 years because of child molestation allegations against him and his financial woes. It would have been great if he could have had the opportunity to revive his tarnished career through his planned European tour.

Unfortunately, in life we aren't always granted those opportunities.