The Jackson 5th Generation

Last night in a beer garden in Donestk, here in the Ukraine, I became a Great Grandfather at 47… Who would have Thunk?

Please let me explain. I just did the math, and this is not an impossible feat for a 47-year-old male to be great granddads if I was, say...

A Father by 15 years old, then add 16 years to be a grandfather at 31, then you add 16 more years to be 47 and a great grandfather!

I am sure this has not happened a lot around the globe, but it has happened. My family tree, however, grows in a slightly different direction.

In my chosen profession of Stadium Theater, which is the art form of Choreographing and Direction of thousands of people for the Opening, Closing, or Halftime shows in stadiums around the world.

The words mass choreography and human animation are part of our legacy to the world.

This art form began as a family affair back in 1990 in Singapore, when I was the youngest of three. There was Ronnie-Jim, Judy, and me cutting our teeth on a smallish show with 6000 Singaporeans and just 3 of us trying to MSU (Make Stuff Up) and getting them in line!

(Check out the whole story behind MSU, and MUCH more, in my FIRST BOOK:THE BACK SIDE OF WONDERFUL available now!)

In 1991 we went to Grand Britannia we to do a Show in Sheffield, England, and added two kids to our tree: Wanda and Francesca, two English roses as different as night and day but, best friends forever.

Leaving them after just a summer the original three musketeers traveled down to Barcelona and our 1st Olympic odyssey together in 1992.

4 years later 1996 we added our kids Collin, Jason, Kristen, Maria, and Cynthia to the tree.

By the time 2002 comes around, I am the sole surviving member of the original three, but still with our kids from Atlanta as we complete a successful Salt Lake Olympics.

Right after the Salt Lake Games I am called back to England to do the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where I re-meet one of our first children Wanda and she as “Mother” and I as “Grandfather” head up the teams there for Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Here is where I meet my “core team since 2002”. Grandson Bryn, and Granddaughter twins Rocky and Gina who have “Mad Skills for sure”! By Bryn’s association we add Auntie Claire and Uncle Nikos to the group in 2004 in the Athens Olympics, we are quiet a troupe now with Granddad Doug at the Helm.

Well last night in a beer garden in Eastern Europe, I realized as I sit there with Auntie Claire and her Husband Paul, and granddaughter Gina we have another Generation sitting at the table of a young upstart and stadium choreographer a local beauty and amazing lady who is not only our interpreter but out friend and was hired into the family by Gina’s twin sister Rocky (who is absent from the table and off ice skating).

But my great granddaughter Jenny joins the choreographic clan as we sit there in the late summer evening in Donestk with wool blankets wrapped around our waists (the restaurant provides them) as summer is holding on but the nights are getting nippy indeed. Jenny the youngest is forced to hear stories of all of our associations and about her Grand-ma Wanda (whom she has never met) and her other great grand parents Judy and Ronnie-Jim whom nobody but me at the table has met yet they all know about and love as if they we raised by them because I keep them alive daily in my life.

And 5 generations laugh and interject and say, “Oh remember when…” “Did we really do it like that?” “ Paper and pencil…!” “Ah those were the good old days!”

And I turn to Jenny my great granddaughter and welcome her to the clan, we all raise or glasses and drink to the youngest member and know that we have chosen wisely and the pride mixed with laughter and the sweet smell of hops waft up into the air and I think…

“You’ve done pretty well for yourself, Great Granddad!”

Family Tree

1990- Parents- Judy (1999)- Doug and Ronnie-Jim (1994)
1991- Children- Wanda and Francesca (UK)
1992- Auntie- Anna (SPAIN)
1996- Children- Collin, Jason, Kristen, Maria, Cynthia & Mark (USA)
2000- Cousins- Sandra, Debbie, Christina, Ross, Darrin, Sara & Alissia (AUS- Australia.)
2002- Uncles and Aunts- Paul, Bonnie, Cati, Danny (2006) & Steve, (USA)
2002- Grandchildren- Bryn & “the twins” Gina & Rocky (UK)
2004- Auntie Claire (UK), Uncle Nikos (GRE- Greece)
2006- Cousins Laura, Isabella & Peter
2007- Cousins Renata & Marcus (BRA- Brazil)
2009- Great Grandchild Jenny (UA- Ukraine)

19 years, 7 Countries, and countless 2nd cousins, whom I will add in when I have a second to sit down and give them the recognition they do deserve