Guestbook

Once in awhile, I get overly nostalgic for my youth. It usually happens around the time of my birthday, which is in late October. Tonight a good friend of mine reminded me of how incredible INXS were, which led to us both taking out our CD's and celebrating the musical legacy of one of God's greatest gifts to this world...Michael Hutchence. Few people could have achieved that level of infamy and still been so down to earth. How sad that the same essence that drove Michael in his creative genius may have ultimately played a role in his untimely demise. He was such a powerful presence, and I think that in that room at the Ritz the night he left us, his own power engulfed him, just consumed him. What he used to create tore him apart inside. Inside wanted out, and it found its way. His spirit was just too big to contain in an earthly body. It must have been hard for him to have struggled with those feelings...of all the people in the world, Michael was the last person I thought would leave in such an abrupt way. I will always believe that the medications he was taking was what drove him over the edge. How much joy this man brought to the world! And how much pain he must have felt on that day nearly 7 years ago. If he had only waited one more day, one more hour, if he had only known the impact his leaving would have on his family and his fans and the world in general. If only he had confessed his truest feelings to someone close, and if only we knew as much about those anti-depressants as sadly we do now. I believe Michael was not in control of himself at the time of his death. I believe the prescription drugs had altered his mind beyond his understanding and ability to save himself. But what is done is done, hindsight is 20/20 and only God knows the true story of Michael's blessed but short life here on earth. Truly the world was a brighter place with him in it, and now it is like a universe with one brightly shining star conspicuously out of place. In Heaven, Michael shines brightly forever and is no longer troubled by the cares of this world. Tonight, listening to music I hadn't listened to in years, brought back a flood of memories from my youth. I discovered INXS at the tender age of 11, and was far too young to understand then how his charisma affected me. Today at the age of 35 I most certainly do, but then it was a very innocent sort of amazement at this man who seemed so comfortable with himself, and was so beguiling in his body language and self-assuredness. Throughout my teenage years, Michael was the archetype for all my romantic interests, and his music was the soundtrack to my relationships with boyfriends. There was this obscure movie with Aidan Quinn where Aidan is with a woman intimately while “To Look At You” plays in the background...I wanted every sensual experience to be just like that. I still do, but I don't dare tell my husband. 😉 Michael's music and his persona as the lead singer of INXS was always this fantastic cheering section in the background of my psyche that inspired me to love more deeply and passionately and to feel as much love as my heart could hold. He taught me to make poetry out of the things that mattered most. I would strive to feel the things Michael sang about so naturally. Michael was pure love and libido and creative force incarnate. His music expressed a gentle power that could rule the world with just a wink and a smile. His stage presence was beyond words. He truly ruled the world when he was onstage, and any fan that had the privilege of seeing him perform could attest to that. Never before, and never since, have I seen someone command an audience like he did. Not even Bono himself can do what Hutch did. Hutch was gifted by God to completely give his heart and soul to his fans. Tonight I came across this memorial site for the first time, and I browsed it for hours looking for answers as to why someone who seemingly had it all could have left in such a hurry. I am grateful to have been given an opportunity to share in the family's private moments of goodbye. It gave me great peace to find this site. I am grateful to know that those closest to him understand that even those of us who only knew him through his music also loved him in a special way, and needed to say our goodbyes and thank yous as well. Michael opened his heart and soul to us in his songs, and as much as one could love the whole world, he loved us through his gift of music and we loved him right back. This website is a beautful and touching way to continue to share Michael's heart and soul with the world. I thought it was so lovely to see that even so many years since his passing, his legacy of sweetness still lives on in the hearts of those who knew him through his music and his public life as well as his personal life. Thank you Kell for this lovely site to honor your son. Surely by now you are still just beginning to understand the impact he had on this world. He lived a rich life full of amazing days, and I trust in God's goodness that he continues those amazing days in Heaven in the presence of Our Most Merciful Redeemer Jesus Christ. I know that Michael's beaming smile and precious heart is only ever a song away. His soul is forever in his music, and his music is forever in our hearts.

Love and peace,
Shannon