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Suzanne de Passe, CEO of de Passe Entertainment and former
Creative Assistant to the President of Motown who helped launch Michael Jackson's career during the Jackson 5 days, spoke exclusively to ESSENCE about how she remembers the King of Pop and how she's coping with his loss.

There are peaks and valleys. There are times when I'm joyous and happy, remembering all the different things, hearing a song. Other times I'm so sad. I can't believe how tragic and devastating this is. Then I climb back up and think about something wonderful, then go back to the basement. Coping to me is a day by day thing.

My most cherished memories of Michael are in my head. I used to gab on the phone when he lived at the family compound. We did not talk everyday. But he would call up and go ‘Hi.'

One day I drove over to pick him up and the two of us went to see Dance Theater of Harlem perform "Firebird" at a matinee. We spent the afternoon at the ballet and it was very very special. We had a great time. We snuck in and people couldn't believe it. They thought it was a look alike. He signed two autographs in the lobby. He just thanked me so much. It was such a good time. It was a very special afternoon, just the two of us. I'm sorry we weren't able to do more things like that.—As told to Pamela K. Johnson

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