Forever My Prince

December 31, 2016

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I could not let 2016 come to a close without paying tribute (in my own little way) to someone who played (and will continue to play) a huge role in my life. Someone who was always there for me (through his music) in both good times & bad. I’m talking about the original “Rude Boy”, the one & only (there will NEVER be anotha!):

Prince Rogers Nelson

I was in middle school when I first heard his voice. It was the late 70’s. I was in my home, walking down the hallway, when “I Wanna B Your Lover” started playing on the radio. I didn’t know who was singing, but that song immediately became my favorite. There was no internet back then, no way for me to google it. I waited till the song was over, hoping the DJ at KTSA would mention the singer’s name at the end, but no such luck. Every time I heard that song, I waited to find out who it was & never did. To be honest, I thought it was a woman singing! That falsetto!

All My Purple Life

Forward to my freshman year of high school, where I met someone who would teach me far more than any class did that year. He was my typing partner, and a Senior. Our typing teacher had lunch duty every day, which meant all of us in typing class had an hour lunch. I was a freshman with an hour lunch, something normally reserved for seniors! My typing partner had a car & the brand new mall was right across the street from our high school – yes, we spent every lunch at the mall! lol!

Besides a car, my typing partner had a love of music, just like me. He had tons of cassettes, and introduced me to bands I’d never heard before: The Bar-Kays, P-Funk, Shalamar, Al Jarreau, and others. But what stood out most were his Prince cassettes! I finally found out who was singing “I Wanna B Your Lover”, it was Prince!

Every day, we’d listen to Prince and The Time, but mostly Prince. And so it began. My life was forever changed.

My Name Is Prince

Prince was a musical genius. Period. Listening to his music was an experience, I felt like he was singing to me & me only. I get lost in his music. He sings about things I’m going through, it’s like he’s in my head. P’s music can instantly put me in a good mood, or have me in tears. Every milestone in my life is marked by his music.

There are Prince fans & then there are Prince FANS … I’m the latter. “Fan” really doesn’t even describe it correctly, the word is not strong enough. I loved the man, and his music. I respect his genius. If you know me personally, then you know of my love for Prince.

Every year since around 1982, I’ve watched every single American Music Awards show, every Grammy’s show, every Billboard Music Awards Show, every MTV Music Awards show, every BET Music Awards show- if it dealt with music & awards- I watched it. WHY?! It’s simple: Because Prince might do a surprise performance & I didn’t want to miss it. I haven’t watched an entire music awards show since his passing, no real reason to.

Call My Name

I was lucky enough to see him in concert 3 times. The first was my Senior year in high school. My cousin went with me. My Mom & my Tia (aunt) drove us from San Antonio to Austin Texas, on a school night, so we could attend his Purple Rain concert. OH MY GOODNESS! It was pure magic! I was in heaven. I can still see him on the stage, still see Sheila E. doin’ her thang, still remember putting my Purple Rain t-shirt on over the top I had worn.

The last time I saw him was in Vegas, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, with my friend Ce-Ce. That concert was fabulous, as soon as he hit the stage tears started rolling down my cheeks. He was everything. We took a limo to the concert (totally unplanned) and walked about 2.5 miles back to our hotel afterwards. It was a night I’ll never forget.

Beautiful, Loved & Blessed

When I was pregnant with my youngest, I’d play Prince’s music for him everyday. Always at the same time, while we waited at the bus stop for big brother to be dropped off. Prince would be playing in the car & my unborn baby would wake up & start jammin’ along with me. I’d rub my belly & tell him “This is Prince, you’re gonna hear him a lot, so get used to it”.

I once wrote a letter to Prince, in the mid 90’s. I told him if he’d come out with a gospel album, that he could bring so many people to Christ. I never mailed that letter.

I can’t fully explain to you what his music does to me. He can take me places no other singer can. I keep coming back to it’s not just a song, it’s an experience. If you love him the way I do, then I’m sure you get it.

God

I lost my Mom last year, on April 12 … this year I lost Prince on April 21. My Mom knew how much P meant to me, and I know if there’s any way possible, she’s in Heaven trying to find him. When she does, she’s gonna tell him about her daughter, Lynda. “She’s a huge fan of yours, always has been. I drove her to your concert in Austin, when she was in high school. I know she’d want me to give you a hug, can I do that? Her name is Lynda.”

Losing Prince has been really hard. I know it sounds weird, seeing as how I never met him, but it’s the truth. First, I wasn’t expecting it. I had hopes of scoring a ticket to his Piano & Microphone Tour. The day he passed, I was a bawling, snotty, hysterically crying mess! I still can’t believe he’s really gone. I’m sure losing him one year after losing my Mom, same month-21st instead of 12th, has played a part in it too.

The Beautiful Ones

There was no funeral for Prince. I wanted to fly to Minnesota, and pay my respects. Walk past his casket, leave a single purple rose on his grave… something! Instead he was cremated right after the morgue released his body to his family. Just like that- gone.

I’ve seen photos of him in his last days, I can see the pain on his face, the bloodshot eyes. Some of our heroes are not meant to live to a ripe old age. Think about it, many of the greats left us while still young. Prince gave us, his fans, everything he had-EVERYTHING. He was not only a musical genius, but he was an activist & a philanthropist. He was Prince-the one & only.