Reposting this article which was originally posted 4/2009 in honor of MJ and the one-year anniversary of his death. My friend Sam called and said he had an extra “All Access Pass” to an exhibit of Michael Jackson‘s estate by Julien’s Auctions. I loved the idea of seeing first hand how the rich and famous live, at least this one most well known rich and famous, and enthusiastically said, “let’s go.” Neither Sam nor I could have had any idea that day of the significance our adventure would hold exactly two months to the day later – the day that MJ would die in the same City.

Why were MJ’s items up for auction before his death? Apparently, MJ had contacted Julien’s to sell much of his estate but then had changed his mind. Since Julien’s was already in possession of the items, MJ did agree to allow Julien’s to put the items on temporary display for public viewing. So,with that permission, Julien’s opened its doors to preview an astounding array of MJ memorabilia that was sure to blow any visitor’s mind. We’re talking 1390 lots filled with arcade games, cars, wax figurines (several Batmans, many Supermans, Elvis, at least two ETs) tour bus, Macaulay Culkin original art, concert and video outfits, Walt Disney and Looney Tunes memorabilia, the iconic white-jeweled glove, and even the grandiose entry gates to Neverland Ranch . The collection offered a surreal glimpse inside this idol’s world, as close as anyone could have gotten to being in his head during a strange and tumultuous period of his life, when he went on one of the 20th century’s greatest unchecked shopping sprees.

As Sam and I walked through the various sections of the auction, I felt more and more eerie. And dirty. Like Diana. What was I doing there? I felt like I had no right to be gawking at someone’s personal possessions even though we all had his permission. I don’t know, it just didn’t feel right.