Every day I feel is a blessing from God. And I consider it a new beginning. Yeah, everything is beautiful.–Prince
I Love Prince!
I receive the text at 11:58 AM at Laura MacArthur Elementary School.
Prince died.
I’m sitting in class with 5 students explaining nouns, adverbs, adjectives, how to write a colorful paragraph.
I stop, read the text again. s l o w l y. The words are in vibrant pink like a life-changing, monstrous announcement.
Prince died.
My body reacts with an unexpected gasp. I blurt out an unintentional, “NOOOO!”
The students stare at me. They’re used to my unusualness, uttering sentences at weird times like, “I love verbs sooooo much, I would marry them if I could!”
“What’s wrong, Mrs. Robinson?”
“Oh, nothing,” I say. “Everything’s okay.”
But it’s not true. Prince dying is not nothing. It’s something significant. It’s something that takes my breath away.
Although, I’ve not met Prince, his death leaves me profoundly saddened. I grew up listening to his music and as a Minnesotan, I’ve heard several stories about him hanging out at the Minneapolis Club scene. My girlfriend, Jeanie, even danced with him at First Avenue in the 80s. Nobody knew when he’d show up, he’d just arrive all Prince-like and gorgeous and begin to dance, jam with the band, & admire the pretty girls.
Those ruffles. That charcoal eyeliner. The high heeled shoes. Oh-my-god, and that VOICE.
We don’t care about his female characteristics. He is just freaking sexy.
First, I had his cassettes, then the CDs: Little Red Corvette. When Doves Cry. I Wanna Be Your Lover. Let’s Go Wild. U Got The Look. But Purple Rain still makes me shiver with nostalgia, still makes me want to get exaggeratedly dressed up to go out with girlfriends, still makes me want to smear on too much lilac eye shadow, intense pink lipstick, Halston perfume—still makes me want to rat up my hair high as hell with Aqua Net.
The Bahamas/Prince Days.
I don’t listen to Prince all the time, but when I slide him into my CD Player, it’s like taking out a slice of soft velvet I’ve forgotten about, skimming it between my fingers, rubbing it upon my skin, and reviving those beautiful days again.
Price died.
Yeah, that is something.
——Dear, Readers, any thoughts or stories about Prince? Especially Minnesotans? xx
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53 Comments
Nan C Loyd
April 30, 2016 at 2:42 pmI remember his movies. I remember his songs and lyrics being so evocative. I really remember the song 1999 in 1998 and 1999. I find it impossible to believe he died in such an undignified way because he was so dignified. I pray his family doesn’t make their scandalous behavior all that Prince is remembered by.
My Inner Chick
May 1, 2016 at 2:29 pmYes, Nan,
I hope his family is respectful and gives most
of his money to charity as he would have. xx
Elephant's Child
April 30, 2016 at 3:19 pmNo stories. Just profound regret.
Our world has been diminished by too many losses this year.
My Inner Chick
April 30, 2016 at 4:05 pm(((TESTING))
ladyfi
April 30, 2016 at 10:41 pmYes – his dying so young was a shock. What a loss!
My Inner Chick
May 2, 2016 at 7:40 pmA huge loss.
He was a creative genius x
Debbie Cherro Sobczyk
May 1, 2016 at 5:24 amHe was amazing .I saw him at First Avenue in the early 80s..will never forget him..Minnesotans Prince!
My Inner Chick
May 2, 2016 at 7:40 pmCOOL)))
Do you have photos? x
Vidya Sury
May 1, 2016 at 9:30 amWhat can I say? I am in mourning. Prince is my favorite artist and I consider him one of my closest friends. Sexy, super-stylish… oh those eyes, that knowing look as though he were sharing a very special secret with you… even when you saw him in a poster…. Bwahahahahahahahahahah! I wrote a tribute too.
My Inner Chick
May 2, 2016 at 7:41 pmVidya,
I know.
I felt as if I knew him.
O, and I would have LOVED to talked w/ him about writing! xx
Sandra
May 1, 2016 at 12:44 pmI’ll admit I’m not a huge Prince fan, although I’ll associate him with the movie Pretty Woman and Julia Roberts. But after reading your love letter to him, I feel like I missed something crucial to my 80s upbringing. And now even I think he’s all hot and sexy. Darn you and your provocative way with words!
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 1:53 pmSandra,
have I told you lately that I love you? x
Shamitri
May 1, 2016 at 12:47 pmKim, I don’t even have the words. I partied like it’s 1999 so often, that song holds such a special place in my heart but it is Purple Rain that was such a huge part of my adventurous young life- I sit with it in grief. I remember When Doves Cry was playing everywhere, we would all get up and dance or just sing.
Last night I was at my daughter’s school auction. The last song was a montage of Prince while he sang Purple Rain. We all stopped and listened or sang. I miss him!
Love your post…
xx
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 1:54 pmShamitri,
Prince was original without apology. That’s what I love! x
Gary
May 1, 2016 at 2:29 pmHey Kim,
Although a profound, significant contributor to the world of music, I never really liked his music. Still, that’s not the point because I know that Prince meant a lot to you and so many.
In kindness,
Gary x
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 1:55 pmGary,
Not Prince.
Then, who turns your crank? x
Carrie Rubin
May 1, 2016 at 4:36 pmIt’s definitely sad to lose him so soon. I practically wore out my Purple Rain CD (back in my early Walkman days). His music was universal and loved by all.
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 1:56 pmI played Purple Rain so many times that everybody in my house plugged their ears!! x
Solidgoldcreativity
May 1, 2016 at 5:26 pmHaha, even your text messages are hot pink! I’m with you, Kim. It is something, his death. What I associate with him is his sexiness and his obvious love for women. I got excited when younger seeing the women in his band and their pivotal role. It was highly unusual, maybe even more so now. He was generous xx
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 1:56 pmI know!
He def. loved all women & treated them w/ respect.
Who doesn’t dig that? xx
lisa thomson-The Great Escape...
May 1, 2016 at 7:17 pmKim, I just LOVE the way you write. Prince would be proud of this tribute. This: “… it’s like taking out a slice of soft velvet I’ve forgotten about, skimming it between my fingers, rubbing it upon my skin, and reviving those beautiful days again.” How divine a description for Prince’s music.
Purple Rain was also my favorite. It has a certain sadness to it that I always loved best. When doves cry brings back the summer of ’84 in clear reminisce.
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 1:57 pmOOOOO, When Doves Cry.
A M A Z I N G
poetry. xxx
Angie@Angie's Recipes
May 1, 2016 at 9:06 pmNobody should die so young…Rest in Peace!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
May 2, 2016 at 1:17 amI absolutely LOVE Prince and I’m still not quite comprehending that he has passed away. I’ve spent the past week listening to his music and watching his movies and anything I can get my hands on. He was an amazingly gifted musician and I’m so sad that I never saw him in concert (bad timings for travel, he was in Australia in February but I was overseas!). My heart is still broken 🙁
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 1:58 pmLorraine,
he was the ONLY man on my bucket list to see in concert.
The rest were women– for example, Tina Turner. xx
Chris Carter
May 2, 2016 at 6:49 amPrince was my refuge during those tumultuous teen years… I lived and breathed Purple Rain. I am full of twisted emotion about his passing. Both in reverence for his incredible talent and in great sadness in reliving how his music and message threaded through that painful and tormenting season of my life.
“…it’s like taking out a slice of soft velvet I’ve forgotten about, skimming it between my fingers, rubbing it upon my skin, and reviving those beautiful days again.” <— THIS is sheer beauty. Oh, you and words. MAGIC.
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 1:59 pmToo bad we didn’t know one another back then , Chris.
We could’ve cranked up Prince and cried together. xx
Debbie
May 2, 2016 at 8:08 amIt’s like losing a part of ourselves when someone we’ve grown up with dies…and the more unexpected the death, the harder it hits us. My little town doesn’t have anybody near the fame of Prince. How fortunate you were, knowing he was right there and could show up unexpectedly!
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 1:59 pmDebbie,
and Bob Dylan grew up in Duluth where I live, too…
but NOBODY is like Prince. xx
totally Caroline
May 2, 2016 at 11:22 amWe lost a great artist. I loved When the Doves Cry 💜💜💜
Dad
May 2, 2016 at 11:26 amI didn’t know or hear Prince very much, but my sympathy goes out to his family
and fans.
Love You
Dad
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 2:00 pmDaddy,
I cannot imagine you listening to Prince!
You are an Elvis man! LUV UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Minnesota Prairie Roots
May 2, 2016 at 3:03 pmBeing older than you, Prince was not of my era. Thus, the only song I remembered was Purple Rain. But I’ve certainly learned a lot about him since his death. He was, and is, a very big deal here in Minnesota.
Mostly, though, I loved reading that you love verbs so much you could marry them. Only a writer (a lover of words) would write that. You are my kind of girl, dear Kim.
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 2:00 pmHey,
we are not far apart in age…
but of course, I lie. xx
Dana
May 2, 2016 at 4:14 pmHe was a part of my adolescence, although I haven’t really thought much about him in years. I had no idea he was from Minnesota until he died. And my text exchange with my husband was exactly the same as yours.
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 2:01 pmDana,
I’ve heard stories about him for years.
He hung out in the Minneapolis clubs,
but damn, I never met him. x
Jeri
May 2, 2016 at 8:55 pmI was sooooooo saddened when I heard the news last Thursday. Prince’s death is by far the greatest blow I’ve experienced in my life when it comes to artists whose work has been a part of my life. Second to his passing, would be Robin Williams. When we are fans, those stars really do become a force in our lives in many ways. Around the World in a Day (along with Madonna’s True Blue) were the first two cassette tapes I ever owned. I listened to them incessantly.
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 2:03 pmI know.
I grew up w/ Prince and Madonna.
Although, I would def. not want to have wine w/ her. Too mean.
—but Prince, OMGOSH, I would’ve talked w/ him for hours about
writing and life! xxx
Hotly Spiced
May 2, 2016 at 9:55 pmI was fortunate to see Prince in concert a few years ago when he came to Oz. Such an enormous loss. And today I heard he died without a will and now there’s all sorts of issues about who is going to benefit from his estate. I can imagine this being a legal mess that goes on for years. So many talented people have left us this year and all long before their time xx
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 2:03 pmDo you have photos?
What a kick that would’ve been. WOW. xx
Mandy
May 3, 2016 at 2:09 amShocker! Too many wonderful people have made the news this year for dying! So incredibly sad, sad, sad.
Love to you my dear Kim.
🙂 Mandy xoxoxo
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 2:04 pmSO many people.
What is going on?
Love flowing, dear. xx
Kim Gagnin
May 3, 2016 at 3:50 amKimmy
Prince was so talented. What a profound loss.
Love and miss you! 💞 K
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 2:04 pmMISS you, darling Kim xx
My Inner Chick
May 4, 2016 at 4:42 amTEST)
Sandra Garth
May 3, 2016 at 4:24 amFinding out that Prince died was almost like finding out that MJ died. I’ll always remember where I was and what I was doing. I loved his music and my favorite song is was Pink Cashmere. It never received the airtime or accolades of his most famous songs but it resonated with me big time. His family has kept things pretty low key and not shown any indication of “scandalous behavior”, and that’s a good thing.
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 2:05 pmSandra,
I felt the same w/ with Lady Diana. That horrid knot in the pit of my stomach. As if we lost an angel.
xx
julie gardner
May 3, 2016 at 1:49 pmI think I sang “I Would Die 4 U” into the mirror two thousand times, always pretending I was looking at my end-all-be-all crush, David Papadopulo. I loved him throughout high school, four long years, always unrequited. David also died, of a heart attack in his 30s. And old friends actually contacted me then like the text you received when Prince died, because after all these years they worried about me finding out.
Death sucks.
It fucking sucks.
My Inner Chick
May 3, 2016 at 2:06 pmYes,
FUCKING sucks
sucks sucks. xx
Jennie Goutet
May 6, 2016 at 6:35 amI was so surprised to find out he lived in MN – that he was from there?
I was not a huge Prince fan, but I liked his music, and from what I could tell of him – I liked him too.
Little Chickie
May 8, 2016 at 5:47 pmI loved his music too. A few of my favs were When Doves Cry and Purple Rain.
The doves cried when he struggled before his death. Then when he crossed over the doves sang and carried him. Then; it rained purple tears.
Little Chickie
Anna @ shenANNAgans
May 9, 2016 at 8:31 pmWhat the fudge is going on lately? So many amazingly wonderful people are dying, its just so sad. Sending you love and hugs. xo
Shamitri
May 23, 2016 at 5:57 pmKim, we were so robbed. There is no other like him. So many of his songs hold special meaning to me, they kept me company, they made me sing with joy, I played air guitar to Purple Rain, much to the annoyance of my friends.. I could go on, I’m still so sad.
xx