Thanksgiving picture

All good things must come to an end...

I have a huge sad face right now thinking that our vacation is almost over. We all leave in the morning to go our separate ways (well, actually Chris and I will go together this time even though we arrived separately) and the time went way too fast, of course. It was great to have the boys here for a few days and just be together for a bit. We had our pictures taken today on the beach, as you can see, and even though the boys tired of it after about shot number 25 they hung in there and we got some good pictures to have to remember our time here. Hopefully it will be the first of many Thanksgiving vacations to come.

All in all a great week---weather got nice at the end and even though it was never swimming weather it was sunny and bright and not snowing!!! That is a plus. So I am thankful, very thankful, for the week, for the down time for Chris and for time with my 2 favorite boys. Life is good.

Beach Photo Shoot Done!

Good food and Family

The best crab cakes I have ever had---twice in one week!!! Thanks, Barbara Jean's!!!

Love this man!

Love this boy!!!

Love this boy, too!!!

Gloomy outside----sunny inside!

The weather is gloomy and rainy here today----good thing our photographer called last night to reschedule the family beach photos to be taken today to Friday! We picked Micah up at the airport last night, went to downtown Fernandina to Karibo for dinner which ended up being appetizers on the Karibrew side where we ended up sitting listening to the trivia contest. No worries---even tho it took a while (actually more than awhile) to get our food it was a nice evening and good to have part of the family here. By the time we got back to the villa Aaron was almost here so we guided him in, unloaded and settled in for the night.

Today has been uneventful so far. Aaron and I took a walk on the beach---I could not keep up with him. He has been taking Fitness Walking and running and is in a lot beter shape than his aging mother but we had fun. Saw the little blue buddy at the top of the page and also an owl (not sure what kind) that Aaron got a pic of but I didn't have my phone or camera with me so I will have to steal his picture so I can figure out what kind it was. Nice walk until it started raining---I was drenched and tired and Aaron --barely winded. So that tells me even more that I need to do something....sigh.

Aaron is working his computer magic for everyone, Micah is playing PSP, Chris is on a work call and we are looking forward to dinner at Barbara Jean's again tonight since we liked it so much with Virginia and Walter on Sunday. And another stop at the grocery store since we do not have anything to eat here according to the boys!!!

Lovely to be together!

Lazy Days!

We spent some time walking around Fort Clinch on Saturday when we got here. Taken from the Florida State Park website is the following description:

Fort Clinch State Park, one of the oldest parks in the Florida park system, was acquired in September 1935. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was responsible for some of the initial development of the park.

Occupied by both Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War, Fort Clinch was never completed due to slow construction. The development of more powerful armament rendered the fort's masonry walls obsolete. Today, the Florida Park Service offers living history interpretation of historic Fort Clinch.A steep ramp leads to the second story of the Fort and Living History reenactors talk about life as a soldier in stationed at Fort Clinch.

Significant plant communities throughout the park's 1,100 acres include sand dunes, overwash plains, maritime hammock and estuarine tidal marsh. Many of these can be observed from the nature trail at Willow Pond or the paved roadway through the hammocks. These are also prime locations for bird watching and nature study.

All in all a pretty neat place to visit and hike around---as with all the state parks there is a small admission fee but well worth it to get some great views and history!

Scenes from Amelia Island

Thoughts from Another to ponder today!

I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. (1 Corinthians 9:26)

Sometimes, I am amazed by scriptwriters. I am astounded at the way they throw in symbolism, foreshadowing or teasers throughout a movie that give you a deeper glimpse, but at the same time are so subtle, you often have to see the movie again before you catch everything. Among other things, scriptwriters use outlines, notes, brainstorms, drafts and redrafts in an attempt to make sure everything interconnects properly.

Every word a writer puts down on paper has purpose. There is no word or event or thought that is not carefully crafted. The writer goes to tremendous lengths to make sure everything is interwoven and perfect before he moves on. It makes me wonder, what if I was a scriptwriter? What if my life, my story was being taken down with each step I took? Each word and action captured and presented. I'll tell you one thing, I would be a lot more cautious and thoughtful about what I said or did.

This is the point. Our lives should be as thoughtful as scriptwriters making their movies. In every step, I should be running with purpose. In every step, I should be making sure I am an example for Christ and living a life that shines the light on him. In every step, I should be thinking about the story of my life. It matters what I say. It matters what I do. I need to be purposeful in writing a script that glorifies God in everything I do. Instead, I often think about him second, or forget to pray before making decisions, thinking that I am the only one who cares about my script.

Each step we take, each decision we make needs to be thoughtful and purposeful, not haphazard or careless. God calls us to be disciplined and in training all of the time for his kingdom. May it be that when we look back on the script of the lives we have created, we'll look back satisfied in the knowledge that for God's kingdom, our lives have been blockbusters.

[Kelly McFadden posted in HomeWord Devotionals www.homeword.com <http://www.homeword.com/> ]

Vacation --Day Uno

Fish scales??? See blog below...

Fernandina Beach

Relaxing in the villa

Love the Spanish moss!

View from our balcony on the second floor

We have had such a fantastic day!!!! I am so happy that we are here!!! This was such a great idea!!! We checked out of the hotel this morning and drove around, explored the little shops at Amelia Island Plantation, walked a lot and just enjoyed a slow pace. It is pretty uncrowded at this point and I hope it stays that way. There are billions of For Sale signs everywhere---Florida has been hit pretty hard and it is kind of sad and will take awhile to come back. As a matter of fact the place where we are staying filed Chapter 11 very recently and they are trying to reorganize it now so that is just another sign of the times. Sad but true.

While we were in one of the shops today we overheard this man asking the clerk something and we just had to walk out before we cracked up. He was looking at this shell that had been shellacked ( see picture above) and was going on and on about how there were hundreds of them on the beach. His question to the clerk was "are these fish scales from really big fish?" and her response was YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I don't know exactly what came out of that shell but it was obviously a bi-valve and not fish scales!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness.

After that incident we went to the chapel and as we were sitting in the meditation garden we heard this crash. We went to investigate along with some other women coming out of the chapel and here these idiot golfers had driven their golf cart off the path over a little bridge and had landed it almost in the water--actually I think part of it was in the water. And they were all laughing and cussing up a storm but let me tell you----I would not have wanted to have been the one to call the ranger to tell him that they had to tow the cart out......I am thinking there might have been some adult beverages involved. There are dweebs everywhere!!!

We spent some time talking to a girl from the Nature Center and she was telling us about all the birds we could see---did see a snake bird and a blue herron without even trying and also a bunch of turtles so we are going to try to go back and see them when we have our cameras. She said that they offer tours so we might check into that but we shall see how the week goes.

We stopped at my favorite----Harris Teeter---got some groceries and got to our villa about 10 minutes after we could check in and it is perfect for us for the week. 3 bedrooms and lots of room to spread out so once the boys get here on Tuesday we will be set!!! Slow nignt tonight---gonna kick back and relax and enjoy the views----already walked on the beach here a bit and will hit it in the morning. Life is good. We are so blessed!

Florida --how I have missed you!

First stop after changing into shorts----Chick Fil A!!! Don't have those in Iowa and I have missed them!!!! I do love their food!!!

Second stop---the beach to dip our tootsies in and walk a bit!!! I realize how much I miss living on the beach now!!!

Let the vacation begin!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Florida, I have missed you!!! Got into Jacksonville on Friday afternoon--pretty uneventful trip which was nice---and had my hubby pick me up at the airport. Luggage came through immediately (amazing!!!) and we were on our way to the hotel to change into shorts and get the vacation started!!! I was starved as I had not eaten breakfast (the sugar pops I took from the hotel were stale....how disappointing) and so a quick run through the Chick Fil A drive thru (if you don't have one near you it is a sad thing and there are none in Iowa...:-() and then off to explore the beach a bit. Got the sand in between my toes (and on the car mats) and life is good! We went to Fort Clinch and hiked a bit and toured the fort which I will post pictures of later. I put tons up on Facebook so if you are on there check them out there.

Back to the hotel and finally got hold of Aaron who had gotten back from the big Cisco experience/interview in San Jose and got the scoop on that. He had a great time, thought the interviews went well but he interviewed with all engineers and that is not what he is so who knows. He says the competition is really stiff and even though in our eyes he is incredible he does not know if he will stack up next to the Berkley dudes/dudettes! But if nothing else---it was a great experience and Cisco, as he put it, was epic!

Today a little driving around checking out the lay of the land before we check into our condo in the afternoon. We spotted a state park we are going to go to and who knows what else we will get into today!!! I am just so excited to be here and especially to have the boys here on Tuesday!!! Yippee!!! I am so blessed. And tomorrow dinner with a friend we haven't seen for 16 years!!! Can't wait!

Different planes---different stories

Chris and I flew to Florida on different days and different flights and yet we had experiences that were noteworthy I think. Chris flew down yesterday and his seat mate was a Green Beret named Matt. They chatted a good part of the trip and I think Matt was someone who had seen a lot of things ----he was probably around 40 and had served our country in places that he would not talk about but was a man who is doing some incredible things for our country. Chris said the flight was filled with a lot of military and it wasn't until they landed that he understood why some were there. The captain held the passengers on the plane for awhile and the reason----a flag covered casket that was on board carrying a US soldier who had died. The pilot ackowledged this and thanked all the military on board for their service and a round of applause rose up for our men and women of the military.

On my flight I was hoping my seatmate would be Brody ( a huge German Shepherd) and his ATF trainer but they got the bulk head and I got Tim---a young enlisted Navy guy. Sweet guy but very young and as we talked I found that he was headed to Afghanistan. We talked a bit and and I commented that he was getting great training and how we were actually going to visit a friend from our Navy days years ago this trip and how those relationships are lifelong. He agreed and said he was getting good training but he was still a little scared. Understandable. When we got up to leave he shook my hand, said "Nice to meet you, Ma'am" and I told him I would be praying for him and to keep safe. I must admit I had a few tears in my eyes thinking about the difference in these two flights---one soldier coming home for eternal rest and one soldier leaving for duty. And I realized how much I really do hate war. It takes lives that shouldn't be taken and how can one ever be the same after their eyes have seen some of the things that they have seen?

So Matt and Tim, you guys are in my prayers. Be safe We thank you.

Motivation???

Today I had an interesting question asked of me and it kind of took me aback for a minute! I have been trying to do some nice things for someone and have maybe gone out of my way just a little to make a difference to this person. Today I was asked what was my motivation for doing what I was doing.....my answer was pretty simple and straight forward---because I have been in a similar situation many times and no one did this for me and I just thought it was the right thing to do. I don't have any ulterior motives for being nice. I do it because it is who I am! And I think that when I show kindness it is a testimony to the God that I love---I think He smiles when he sees His children doing nice things for one another. Most likely I am not going to be able to save the world from hunger, stop the spread of diseases or be able to put an end to war in my lifetime but maybe, just maybe, I can show some kindness to people along the way and as a result let them see the light of Jesus through me. What do you think???

The Ten Commandments---Number 8

I am going to get ahead of the game this week on this book since I will be leaving and don't want to forget to do my discussion with my sister! This week my chapter addresses the commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Pretty straight forward and a good motto to live by---basically that honesty is the best policy. I have always pushed for honesty and sometimes it is really, really difficult to be honest about things because it might hurt someone's feelings or put a wedge in a friendship but in the end it is really the best practice, don't you think?

This chapter really didn't do a whole lot to challenge me or bring much new to light but then perhaps it is because I am a little distracted right now. Chittister emphasizes in this chapter many students admit to cheating on tests or other things in school and warns us about these individuals being our next leaders. She paints a pretty glum picture in my humble opinion and I would like to think that it is not as gloomy as she says it is. But perhaps my naivete is showing here, you think?? I do think that it is not a new thing--there have always been cheats and liars and most likely there always will be. I am guilty. I have lied. And not just once. I have embellished a story to make it sound better. I have lied to spare feelings. I have lied to get myself out of a sticky situation. Even though I tout honesty as THE thing it does not mean that I am without sin here, believe me. I wish I were.

Chittester speaks of speech as a sacred act and indicates that getting away with a clever untruth is part of what it takes to become a success. That made me pause---I think that might be a little harsh and an overstatement but maybe in her world that is what she has encountered. She states that "to speak is make a reality" and that "Lying obscures the real self---even from the self." I would agree that sometimes lies do that.

She sums up the chapter with this exerpt: "It is a commandment meant to preserve an entire people from the cancer of mistrust, the individual from the pitfalls of pride, and the society from living with the corrosive effects of a culture of deceit." Food for thought I think but once again I think she is pretty negative on this.

Ponderings

This week is flying by and before I know it it will be Friday and I will be meeting Chris in Florida for a week of sun and fun! This year we decided that we were going to start a Thanksgiving tradition with our boys before life got away from us. It means not being with our extended families which makes me sad but those trips were always quick and very tiring. So starting this year----a week away with the boys in a nice relaxing place. Of course the boys won't be able to be there for the whole week what with work and school but we will have them for most of it and that is wonderful. I can't wait. I miss my boys and one on one time with them. Which makes me reflect a bit on the fact that even as they grow up they still need their parents. Maybe in different ways than when I was changing diapers, teaching them their colors and letters, driving them to soccer, basketball, football, band, piano lessons, gymnastics, etc...but they still need me!! Yea!!!!

I just wonder somedays how we got to where we are today! I mean--really--here I am a mom of a 21 year old and a 24 year old---how the heck did that happen? I know it is hormones (Chris told me one day that I have my own climate now) but I am waxing nostalgic these days. It doesn't take much to bring tears to my eyes. Yesterday when driving home from taking Chris to the airport I had to go around an accident that had just happened and I got all teary thinking about the people on the stretchers that they were taking out. Some of the ads on tv make me teary. Reading emails from friends make me teary. I have always been tender hearted but I think this hormone thing is kicking that into overdrive and i could do without that. When I watch Extreme Home Makeover I bawl and Chris just shakes his head!!! Does anyone has a magic pill to slow those tears a bit?? Gee whiz!!!! I would love to stock up on it!!

I guess being tender hearted is an okay attribute---I would much rather be that than stiff necked and hard hearted. I hope I always have empathy for folks and want to help. I think I will because I think that is just in my DNA thanks to my mom and dad. I guess I just need to figure out how to funnel that emotion!!! And as we all know God makes each of us unique and according to my husband at least---I am very unique! The other day he told me that I was the pick of the litter......he never ceases to make me laugh. And isn't that what life is about---laughing??? Our friend, "Cotton" Ketchie always seems to post on his Facebook something about making others laugh and it is true--that is a good thing. In this day and age of unemployment and stress it is good to take time to laugh and put a smile on your face. So I am challenged today to do that---to make a difference to one person today by giving them the opportunity to smile and laugh. I will put away the tears for a day....maybe!

Angel Food Ministries

One of the best things you can do is volunteer, right? One ministry that I believe in is Angel Food Ministries and many of you are familiar with it. My sister has been a big proponent of this since one of her former churches was involved and once I found out that they were going to have it in Mason City I was excited! I have not been at many meetings but I was able to go help today with distribution ---the second month that Mason City has been able to do it. Great experience and great organization!

I think the thing that is so attractive about this ministry is that there are no requirements at all. Anyone can order. No discrimination or income guidelines and the more people that order the better it is! Each month a truck will deliver the food --all high quality and fresh----to the host site and drop it off. Volunteers get it organized, people who have ordered either in person or online come with boxes, baskets and coolers to pick up their food in an assembly line fashion. Easy! Check it off and you are on your way! I ordered the basic signature box and the fresh fruit and veggie box and for about $50 got a ton of food and it all looks great.

Great way to meet people and to do something worthwhile! I encourage any of you to check it out at their website--find a host site near you and start ordering now. It is a very organized organization who offers a great product for a great price and in this day and age who doesn't want to save a few bucks? http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

Happy Birthday!!!

I know she won't be happy that I posted her picture for all the world to see (yes---I do indeed have a world wide following!!!Ha!) but hey---you only turn 80 once in your life! And today is the day!!! My mom turns 80 and let me tell you---she has a lot more going on now than I do!!! Let me tell you---when I try to call her--she is never there! Always running around, doing things, helping others, volunteering, singing in the Chorale, etc. But it is awesome and I am so grateful that she chose to be at Copeland Oaks where she has such a great support system and can be near healthcare and all when she needs it! What a blessing!

So on this day I am grateful for her and for her always believing in me---trusting me and being my friend! Not everyone can say that their mom is their friend but I can and I have been blessed time and time again by her wisdom and her constant faith. She is an example of a Godly woman who really lives out her faith and if I can be half the person that she is I will be happy!!!

So Happy Birthday, Mother! Don't be mad that I am posting this picture of us---it is definitely one of my favorites!!!

Socks. Windmills and Waterfalls

At the Dunnings Spring Waterfall, Decorah, IA

Crane Creek Wind Field, IA

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Dunnings Spring Waterfall

Now we know where to get some when we need it!!!!

Chris and I were musing this morning over the fact that last year at this time we were spending our weekends on adventures to see beaches, waterfalls, rain forests, coffee plantations and wineries. Today our big adventure was to travel about 30 miles to Osage to go to the Fox River Mills sock sale. Big annual event and quite a fundraiser for local charities I would image!!! And a pretty great deal if you were in the need for any kind of sock--lots of folks were there for Day 2 of the sale sponsored by the Rotary Club and we managed to walk out with about 20 pairs of socks and some gloves. They definitely had a system and next time I will be a little more aggressive in finding socks for me but I just wasn't really into being aggressive today I guess!

We decided that that just wasn't quite enough excitement for us today so we headed to one of our favorite little towns, Decorah, to continue our day of adventure. We walked the town, shopped a little, bought some things at the awesome kitchen store there and then headed to Dunnings Spring to see the waterfall there. So see---we still get to see waterfalls! It was pretty and we got a few nice pictures of the day to remember it by!

So even if we aren't tramping around Australia right now we are still seeing beautiful things and enjoying time together. A great day of 70 degree weather so we figured we had better take advantage of it. Now cheers to NCSU for beating Maryland and now we are watching UNC beat Duke. Hopefully the game will end with UNC ahead!!!!

Sadness and Shock---Fort Hood Shootings

By now I would imagine most of the world has heard about the shootings at Fort Hood in Texas that occurred yesterday. The details will come out over the next weeks and months and there is much speculation, of course, about what triggered these shootings by Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. The taking of lives is never a pretty thing or something that is easy to embrace. I would imagine those involved are going to be asking "why" for a long time. It is sad, heart breaking, actually and I found myself, like many others, being drawn to the coverage until I finally could not take any more and had to turn it off. When things like this happen it really makes us realize that each day is indeed a gift from God. These victims were on base that day with no idea whatsoever that their lives were going to either be taken in violence or that they were going to be injured or at the very least changed forever from the events of the day.

Having lived on a military base for 5 years early on in our marriage I had to reflect back on that time and how safe I felt there. You had your little stickers on your car that allowed you access to the main base and there were always gates and guards that checked you through. When that trust and security has been broken it is difficult to understand how one of the few places where people most likely felt safest can continue to offer that level of comfort. I must say that I never have felt unsafe in any place that we lived but probably I felt the safest when we did live in military housing. It is a community and everyone looked out for one another.

So I guess today my thoughts and prayers are with all involved in this horrific event. My prayers go out also to the Major and his family---there seems to be no explanation but my prayer is that somehow something positive comes out of this. That is a stretch to imagine at this point. We serve an awesome God. So today I am going to focus on that. It is about all I can do at this point.

So why is MY chapter the chapter on Adultery?

Paula and I continue to read and "discuss" on our blogs The Ten Commandments: Laws of the Heart by Joan Chittister and this week is my week and it is the sixth commandment --You shall not commit adultery. Great. I get the one about sex. But you know what---after reading this chapter I found out that it isn't all about sex. (some may argue with that...) But read on, dear sister, and here is what I gleaned---I am looking forward to your comments also!

Obviously in the Hebrew scriptures there are zillions of references to adultery but what the author pointed out was that these violations were not violations of trust and intimacy but rather of violations of property law and inheritance. Marriages in Israel were not based on love as we define it. Wives and children were a measure of a man's wealth and statue so if a man took another man's wife in an intimate relationship it was as if he took that man's "property". Now that is a pretty difficult concept for me to wrap my head around because I have never been treated as "property" but I am sure there are many who have experienced that even in this day and age. Wives were owned. The definition the author gives of an adulterous woman was "a married woman who had sexual relations with any man, married or single, not her husband." Sex was the woman's sin. Hmmm. Seems unfair but it was the way that that society was set up.

But how do we look at this commandment today when our definitions have changed? Chittister suggests it is more of an issue of commitment. Marriage is one of the few things these days that is based on mutual trust. I loved her thoughts when she stated that "everything today is a movable feast". This is my life! We move around, change states, towns, sometimes even countries and it is hard work to keep relationships alive and going. It takes time and commitment. How wonderful it is to say that I am able to continue relationships with high school friends, friends from Navy days and from all the places that we have lived! Not that it is always easy ( Facebook and the internet certainly help!!) but it is the way that we can retain some permanance in our lives amid the movement.

Chittester suggests that we do not normally marry for property or clans these days but instead we marry because of the need for human intimacy . We long for someone to share our lives with . It takes work. A lot of work. Don't be fooled. It isn't always easy to love the guy whose elbow ends up in your face in the middle of the night and wakes you up! But it is soooooo worth it !!!

So perhaps what I got from this chapter is best summed up with this: This commandment tells us to truly care about others, not just give the lip service. Go out of our way to make them know that they are important to us--not property or something to be just taken for granted. Relationships are an investment of time and self. It doesn't always come easy. Let's face it---we are not always easy to love. But at the end of the day--what is it all about??? Love.

"Marriage should be a duet---when one sings, the other claps." Joe Murray

Pawsing for a Moment

In my ever present quest to find meaning in my life I have hit upon something that might help me out. I finally found a place that is happy to have someone help them out on their own schedule---the Humane Society here in Mason City! Yay! All the employees are really great and Pam gave me the tour and got me started on the whole volunteer process. They just moved into a new spacious facility and it is a far cry from their old building. The dogs and kitties actually have room and nice accomodations and it is just a really nice facility.

I walked a couple of doggies and got a decent workout yesterday----they are just excited to get outside I think! And the great thing is that the walk is so easy---it is just outside of town and on a road that there is very little traffic and it runs right along the river so even though the leaves are off the trees now it is a lovely place to walk! So it is a win win----both for me and the dogs and I can go drop in anytime I want to so that works too!!! Why didn't I do this before???? Silly me! So we shall see---I figure a couple times a week but when it is 20 below i probably won't be doing it....hopefully I have a month before that happens.....The kitties were adorable but they have had some respiratory thing going through the kitty part so they are limiting socialization in there right now but believe me---they will be my priority too!!! Though it is not easy to walk a cat.....

So at least I have a plan. Kind of. And I would encourage anyone out there to find their local shelter, donate supplies, money, show up to help socialize and just love the animals that need a home!!! End of PSA !!!!

THIS IS IT!

I know that not everyone is a Michael Jackson fan but I grew up with him---I mean we were almost the same age! We had to be out of the house for an open house on Saturday so I "suggested" we go see the documentary on his life during that time and since we had seen all the other movies that we were interested in that were showing the hubby agreed! So off we went! I anticipated a huge crowd but I guess Mason City is not in the population that loved Michael Jackson or something because good grief---there was hardly anyone there!

But I am glad we went. It was worth it and it made me a little verklempt (thanks to Mark Ralls for that vocab word) while I watched it. It was not a movie in the usual form but a documentary with clips of rehearsals, short interviews with some of the musicians and dancers and all in all an overview of what the This Is It tour would have been like. I am sad that he was not able to do it. It would have been nothing less than spectacular.

We were both overwhelmed with the talent, the creativity, the imagination and professionalism that went into the making of the tour. It boggles my little mind to think of how they had the knowledge and skill to put it all together. Amazing. Simply amazing. The dancers were amazing and to think that they were hand picked by Michael himself---what a testament to their ability when one of the best entertainers of all times says "you're the one I want on stage with me". Wow.

There were also increcible musicians that were a part of the tour including the keyboardist/trumpetist Mo Pleasure. Now you GOTTA love a guy with that name! Honestly! And perhaps one of the persons who was best showcased was 24 year old Australian guitarist Orianthi Panagaris. Wow. You have to find some of her stuff on YouTube or buy an album. She jammed with Carlos Santini among others and played with Carrie Underwood at the 2009 Grammies. That is where Michael saw her and asked her to be a part of the tour. Amazing talent.

I was happy that the film was positive and focused on the good things and not the sadness that MJ just have had throughout his life. Of course there was drama surrounding him in the past years but I am focussing on the positives in his life and not the drama. Suffice it to say I enjoyed the movie, the music, the staging, the presence of the self proclaimed King of Pop. Amazing talent taken too soon.