One of the things Mike and I loved to talk about was music. We share a great love for rock 'n' roll. In fact, the last interaction we had came a few weeks ago when Mike asked me if I knew when the new Pearl Jam album was coming out. I told him it was scheduled for release on March 27. He thanked me and signed off with, "Have a rocking day." I plan to take him up on that offer (and so do my neighbors) for as many days as I continue to walk this earth.
One of my favorite Michael stories involves a concert a couple decades ago at Park West in Park City. I believe it was the Scorpions (but it could have been Van Halen). Anyway, I had some of the first available seats on the grass hill, and as we were waiting for the show to start, Michael and one of his friends came strolling by as they were just arriving. We talked for a few minutes and then they continued on looking to find a different spot on the hill to watch the show.
Well, after the main set ended, and we were all on our feet yelling and screaming, waiting for the encores to start, who do I see, but Michael and his friend hurriedly rushing past us and heading for the exits. You'd have thought he just got paged by the fire department! I guess they wanted to make sure to beat the traffic. (Granted, getting out of Park West after a concert was a trial of endurance in itself -- but I had to shake my head at how anyone could leave a fantastic concert right before the band would be playing several of its greatest songs. But Mike was determined to get out while the roads were clear and to stay out of traffic. (Or maybe he was late to a hill-climbing event in his old Monte Carlo?)
Come to think of it, Mike died how he lived. Sure, he left earlier than any of us would have wanted him to, but you can bet he saw a clear road ahead. And if you take a look at what's happening in the world today, one could make the case that Mike wanted to get to those Pearly Gates before all the impending traffic the earth is sending that way. No doubt Mike just flashed that backstage pass a life-well lived earned him, and he's enjoying the show from an eternally improved perspective.
Goodbye, Mike! ... Till we rock again!