Michael Jackson Memorial - Part 2: The program

July 8, 10:40 AMLA Celebrity Headlines ExaminerTiffany Warner

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Michael Jackson memorial program

As 20,000 ticket holders spilled into the Staples Center yesterday (July 7) to participate in Michael Jackson's memorial service, they were each handed a program that shed light into Jackson's personal life - not as an entertainer but as a brother, uncle and father.

As promised, I will recap yesterday's memorable events (in several parts) as I attended the memorial service.

Let me set the scene for you - parking at Staples was pretty tricky and put me behind schedule, so when I was first handed the program I wasn't able to fully examine it. I was merely on a mission to get to my seat. Having already missed the coffin procession into the arena, Smokey Robinson's opening remarks and I had to enjoy Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz belt out "I'll Be There" from numerous monitors (along with Staples staffers) as I walked/slightly ran to aisle M1. After finally being planted in my seat (row 11, seat 3) and breathing a sigh of relief, I then opened the keepsake.

I immediately noticed most sentiments were signed with first names only or nicknames. For example, the first one read:

"To the world Michael is an icon. To me Michael is family. He will forever live in all of our hearts. I miss you Mike and I love you. -Dunk"

I turned to my fellow examiner Jennifer Lewis and we both whispered, "Who is Dunk?" There was no explanation or helpful set of parenthesis with an actual name -just "Dunk". (Later I learned Michael gave his baby sister Janet the pet name when they were younger.)

People also called Michael "DooDoo". One message read:

"Dear DooDoo, Even though you are not around I still feel your presence every second, and in that I find my strength. Thank you and I am forever grateful for everything you taught me and all the knowledge you shared. You made me the person I am today and I promise to make you proud. Our time together is treasured in my heart, forever and always. I love you. I can't wait to see you again. -Ahern Lousa 'Big Blankets' from Little M."

Another read:

"Uncle Michael, I can't even begin to express how important you have been in my life. You will ALWAYS be a huge part of who I am now and what I will become in the future. I love you Applehead. -Taj"

And yet another said:

"You have filled my life with knowledge, laughter, happiness and love. To the world 'Michael Jackson' is the greatest. To me, Uncle Michael is even better. I love you beyond life. -Taryll" 

At this point, I realized the program was more like a collection of private conversations meant for someone's special brother, cousin or uncle which ticket holders just so happen to get a hold of.

Yes, we were all attending a memorial service for the King of Pop but this man was much for than that to his relatives and close friends. He wasn't just a star or ambassador to the world, Michael Joseph Jackson was a part of their family.

So hey, if we didn't understand the nicknames, cute phrases, or special moments it was OK because they weren't truly meant for us anyway. They were for Michael and he knew exactly what they all meant.

Thank you, Jackson family and AEG Live for sharing those special moments with all of us.

Enjoy the slideshow of the first 9 pages of the program and the cover. (Sorry our slideshow feature only holds 10 images.)