another small tribute to michael jackson

Here is a photo of my brother Eric and me in the 80s. I can’t remember exactly where we took this but I remember that Thriller shirt.

Like just about every kid my age, I thought Michael Jackson was the coolest man on the planet. I did anything I could to be like him. Thriller was amongst the first records I owned and in addition to the sleeveless fashion gem seen above, I also had a red “Beat It” jacket and, of course, a white sequenced glove. Eventually, I stopped trying to dress like the King of Pop, but, like most people, I remained a loyal (if silent) subject of his royal smoothness.

It was sad to hear about Jackson’s death yesterday. Now, the inevitable tributes and retrospective biopics have begun. Every element, the good and the bad, of Jackson’s life will be brought to light yet again. While there are certainly more important things happening in the world, it’s hard not to think about the this creative blur of a man who danced, sang, and made millions of us happy doing those things so well.

graduation 2009

It’s hard to believe that graduation was just a week ago today. It’s harder still to believe that the program is over. The year flew by quickly thanks to great teachers, interesting classes and, more than anything else, a star-studded group of classmates. I’m thankful to have been a part of such a talented lot and I hope to keep in touch with many of these good people for years to come. I’m glad the future of higher education is left to these able hands, agile minds and compassionate hearts.

In addition to celebrating with friends, I was fortunate to have 6 family members in town for the festivities.

eddie, nick and eric

My two brothers flew in from Austin and traded in their comfortable beds for our hard floor to see their older brother graduate. This, I think, is significant, since they both love their sleep. It also isn’t insignificant to say that they are still the two “things” I miss most about Austin. Smart, easy-going, and funny, Eric and Nick always make me happy when they’re around. I thank them both for being great brothers and good friends in spite of whatever childhood torture they may have endured by me.

eddie and maggie

My 80+ year old Great Aunt Maggie made her first trip to Boston to see her nephew graduate. She and her late husband, Uncle Bob, were always there for my brothers and me. Aunt Maggie remains the most positive, cheerful, and vital person I know. At 83, Aunt Maggie gave most of us youngsters a run for our money by easily traversing the uneven streets of Cambridge in heels! I’m glad that she isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, and, I’m delighted to have her in my life.

carlos and eddie

My cousin Carlos and his two sisters have always been some of our closest (and coolest) cousins. That Carlos took time out from his busy schedule designing space treadmills in Houston is a big deal. As kids, we would read our grandpa Carlos’s National Geographics. He’d look at photos from space and I’d look at images of people in far away places. In some ways, we’re still doing a version of that. As Carlos looked up to space, I looked up to him. And, I still look up to him now.

eddie sr, eddie jr and sylvia

Mom and Dad have always provided Eric, Nick and me with their complete love and support. Dad has always instilled his unparalleled sense of justice and healthy skepticism in authority, while mom has always been the paragon of compassion and commitment to caring for others. If my brothers and I have taken just a tiny bit of these virtues from our parents, we’ll be in good shape. Beyond this, mom and dad are funny–they’ve taught us to laugh, and it was good to laugh with them all again this past week. I’m lucky to have them as parents, and I was happy to have them here last week.

ingrid and eddie

And finally, my wife Ingrid played hostess to this motley crew of Texans. She was gracious and composed, thoughtful and cheerful as always. She made the week go by without a hitch. Even in the face of  5 boys (and I include myself in this lot) living in her apartment, she kept her sincere smile. All of our guests, male and female, made a point of reminding me to thank my wife for her hospitality. And so, Thank you Ingrid for you hospitality, love and everything else.