My Michael moment was simply when he’d seemingly interrupt the world’s din in a crowded auditorium with a gentle penetrating comment or observation and share a secret with you.
He’d turn his shoulders into you and turn his body slightly sideways. He would partially cover his mouth with his right hand with two bent fingers that would just barely tap his lips. His voice would go low and he’d look you in the eye. He’d speak to you in a slightly raspy voice, displaying an almost indistinguishable stutter that emphasized the importance of his thought. He’d tuck his head down, and in almost a whisper that drew you in and made you listen even harder, he’d make some off the cuff remark about events, speakers, or activities happening at that very moment.
You’d feel like he’d raised his invisibility cloak shrouding you both in secrecy. Then you’d make an acknowledging comment in kind. His eyes would light up with real joy, and he’d quickly respond with, “Yeah, yeah…” while emphatically nodding his head in affirmation and pointing the two bent fingers in the air for emphasis. In that instant, just the two of you bonded over that seemingly critical comment that birthed some newfound mutual perspective. For just an instant, the moment would seem to transcend time.
Then suddenly, the sounds of the external room would accelerate and catch up to your frozen moment and things fast-forwarded and raced to reach their normal speed once more. In an instant, the words were gone. They simply evaporated into insignificance, unable to be captured. Not needing to be captured. However, the moment that you had shared with Michael lingered with you like a wisp of magic.
You suddenly felt a loss. Indeed, you felt a pang of hunger, hoping for the moment’s return. But in its place, you felt good — really, really good. You felt special, even enriched. Michael gave you the feeling that you and your opinion really mattered.
He made you feel important enough to share with you some special secret because you matter.
I can’t think of a greater gift that one person can give to another. Thank you, Michael.
