Catherine Jackson Is Avoiding Memories of Michael

On Tuesday, Catherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, spoke about the grief of losing her child in her latest interview with CNN.

"There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about my son. He should be with us now. He died because of a doctor’s negligence, and bearing it is very difficult—truly difficult." But what does Catherine do to overcome her sadness?

She has left the home where she lived for 40 years (since 1969) and moved to a newly built estate in the affluent Hilltop area of Los Angeles. She is running from memories that, she says, have trapped the old Jackson family home in their grip.

"Michael was 11 when we moved into this house. He was in his twenties when he left. Being there brings all the memories back for me. Those memories are painful for me now because he isn’t with us anymore."

In the new house, the walls are decorated with Michael’s favorite artworks, but there is no photo of him. Michael’s three children have hung pictures of their father in their rooms, but the grandmother avoids them.

Wednesday is Catherine’s birthday, but there’s no celebration at home. She is a Jehovah’s Witness, and according to her faith, celebrations are forbidden.

Michael’s youngest child, 9-year-old Blanket, honors his father’s memory in his own special way. He doesn’t cut his hair. His straight, long brown hair is even longer than before, reaching the middle of his back. Catherine says:

"He doesn’t want to cut his hair because his father liked it that way and wanted it to be long. But I think there will come a day when he’ll be forced to cut it."

Blanket studies at home, but his brother and sister—14-year-old Prince and 13-year-old Paris—go to a private school.

"They do very well in school. They go every day."

The children have been kept away from news about the trial for their father’s murder. The trial has been postponed until September, but when it begins, for a few weeks they won’t see their grandmother around as before. Catherine says she will be at the trial.

"I plan to be there every day. If I can, I’ll go."

She says that if special circumstances arise, she will leave the trial for a while—for example, if the photos from her son’s autopsy are more than she can bear.

"I’ve heard they want to show some of the photos related to his autopsy. I don’t want to see something like that. So I’ll go out and wait in the hallway until it’s over, and then I’ll come back. But I feel like I have to be present at the trial."

This won’t be her first time. Six years ago, she was there during the days alongside Michael and other family members at the courtroom where Michael was ultimately acquitted. Those days, Michael was exhausted.

"Yes, I was there every day. I wanted to be there to support him. Because I knew his accusations were just a bunch of lies. I asked God for the truth to come out. I knew that if the truth came out, my son would be able to return home free—and that’s what happened."

She rejects rumors about his illness:

"I’m still here, and thank God."

Source: eMJey.com / CNN.com