Sunday, July 1, 2012


To anyone else these 2 rocks are just that, two rocks, nothing else.  Perhaps from someones garden, or driveway, maybe a field? These rocks don’t look so unusual, one is dark in color and the other one is a little lighter. Both have irregular shapes, as most rocks do, nothing spectacular. But to me, the owner, these 2 rocks are very, very special. Being the symbolic person that I am, I have to say, I hold these little treasures close to my heart. You see, these rocks are from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. My ten friends and I visited this place back in August 2010, the day before Michael’s birthday. 

The long drive leading up to the stopping point, as far as anyone was aloud to go, was quiet and emotional.  No one was saying much and from what I can remember, no music was playing – it was just quiet. The weather that day was beautiful. We welcomed the afternoon breeze and cloudless sky. It was breathtaking for me to be there, I’ll never forget my experience, what I felt. I had almost a need to get as close as I possibly could, just closer… so there I stood clinging on to the rails of the gate, crying. I kept looking as far ahead as I possibly could and let my imagination get carried away. If only I was allowed to go passed those gates, if only. My heart still hurts for that, to be able to walk inside his home, walk around on the grounds, to be where he was. To be at a place he dreamed about, built and was able to fulfill one of his callings. At one point while standing there, I was pretending as if it were 1990 and Michael was there along with a bus load of children he invited to enjoy his zoo and amusement park. He loved Neverland, I’m sure. 

After a bit of time passed, I recalled that I had brought along with me my phone which has my photo collection of various pictures of Michael. While still standing almost in the same spot, for what seems to of been a very long time, I shifted to the other side of the gate and sat up my little phone and started my slideshow. I stood there crying, looking at images of him. I was thinking of his life, from start to end. There is so much to this man, it truly does overwhelm me at times. It was hard for me to leave that gate. 

A few of my friends (my pretties, that’s what I call them) were walking around and looking at all the different flowers, trinkets and the several memorial type tributes that other people brought. We stopped at the local store and bought sunflowers to bring. While others felt the need, like I did, to just wander off to be alone – to reflect. Eventually I did leave the gate and walk around to get a better view of what we were permitted to see. I made my way over to the stone wall and sat down. I’m not sure how long we were there but I do know it wasn’t long enough. We needed to get back to the hotel. 

But first, I’ll tell you about the 2 rocks. As I was sitting on the stone wall, one of my pretties came up to me, and placed these 2 rocks in my hand. No questions, no why’s, no what if’s – I can’t remember exactly what she said, if she said anything at all,  but I do remember her warm smile. I was greatly moved by her gesture of thoughtfulness … I felt the need to cry a little bit more. It was perfect, just a little something of Neverland to take back home with me which was little over 2,000 miles away. I have mixed feelings about Neverland. Opinions and thoughts I’d rather not discuss here. However, these feelings will never divert my longing to be there. I want to go back to that place, so bad. I will again one day, I’m sure.