As we all celebrate the life the the greatest entertainer, Michael Jackson…I can’t help but still be in shock about everything because it seemed so sudden and was totally unexpected. And, it really brought home what it means to treat every day as if it’s your last…and treat every moment with a loved one as if it’s your last.

As some of you know, I lost my sister to leukemia in August of 2001. It’s hard to believe it’s been 8 years. I still feel like it was just yesterday that she was with us. People often ask what is my fondest memory of her, and I have to say that it was my last night with her, a day before she died. My parents and I used to rotate spending the night with her in the hospital, and that night was mine. I remember she was really sad that particular night, and when I look back on things, I believe that she knew inside that it was her time to go soon. I can’t remember our conversation word for word, but I do remember when she turned to me and said, “I love you Tiko.” I told her I loved her too, and I asked her did she want me to lay in the bed with her. She said yes (and if any of you knew her, I mean, knew her, knew her…you know she was feeling extra sentimental, cause she NEVER shared her bed…lol…).

I felt so honored to crawl in the bed with her. I held her and rubbed her head till she fell asleep. I kissed her and told her everything was gonna be ok, and that I loved her. The next day, she went into a coma and shortly thereafter went to heaven. But, I’ll always cherish that memory. I’m comforted by the fact that I got a chance to say I love you to her while she was still living.

Listen people, cherish your loved ones. Do your best. If you know you’ve hurt someone you love, make amends. If you have a chance to make a lasting memory with someone, do it. We really need to stop all the hating, all the mean-spirited gossiping, and all these self-righteous attacks of one another. Seriously, it’s really sad how the media has had nothing but horrible things to say about Michael over the past few years…and it seems like now all of a sudden they wanna eat their words.

We need to give our loved ones their roses while they’re still living. We need to respect one another, and realize that we’re all down here doing our best. NONE OF US have it all 100% correct. Not one.