It Rained Purple Over Paisley Park

Growing up in Minnesota, you have purple pride...not only because you are born into MN Viking country but where it rains purple because of Prince and now it will continue to rain a color of passion from the heavens where Prince now rests...the rainbow was proof...

It took awhile for the news of Prince passing away to be real.  My heart was saddened to hear of the death of Prince on April 21st 2016, because it was almost a piece of my childhood had died. I was about 8 when I first heard him sing. I may have not known the underlying tones of sexuality and apparently my parents didn't care as they let me listen to it and he instantly became one of my favorite artists. I was at the age where MTV was the first thing I turned on after school. I loved music and would make my own mixed tapes when that was the cool thing to do.  I had posters of Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Prince on my wall. I also had a picture of Florence Griffith Joyner...I was either going to be a rock star or look like one when I became a track athlete. I think I was the only 4th grader wearing big dangly earrings, crazy newspaper print pants, a bright yellow shirt to match and black patent leather flats. He made it cool to be different. It is because of him I found a writing bug. Music was there for me at a tough time in life and I could turn it on and things made sense and I wasn't alone.  

Neither of those opportunities really worked out for me but the influences he had on people all over the world and the people he touched and artists he inspired will live on forever. Now that we live in this age of being able to pull up a song or movie on the Internet, I will enjoy sharing his music with my kids and this week, I have heard them bust out into Purple Rain out of the blue. When this happens, I remember that young girl who would belt out When Doves Cry in my bedroom and play air drums to Glamorous Life by Sheila E and hoped one day I would see a Prince concert.  Unfortunately, I did not get to see one so I will see that in heaven one day...my youngest son said to me, "I wish I could see him in concert." ... Me too buddy! He still and will attract the upcoming generations. It is timeless just as he was in real life. 

He touched the world and I hope he knows as he gets to the gates, that he has done it all... Because he did! He did it his way and because of that changed the music industry and I'm so thankful for him for putting some funk in the world! 

To our generation, he was our Elvis. I'm thankful for YouTube to be able replay his music whenever we feel the need for some purple in our life! 

He will be missed..RIP Prince.