On 40th Birthdays and the Death of Icons

I still can’t pull myself together, so forgive the rambling in advance……

I wanted to write a post about Prince and what he meant to me.

But the words won’t come.

I could tell you that I can’t remember a world without him in it, that he has always been in my musical consciousness.

I can’t remember if the first time I heard him was on the radio singing Controversy , or if it was my Father’s band singing Do Me, Baby.

But I KNEW.

I wasn’t supposed to be listening to him but I KNEW. We used to sneak and listen to  Purple Rain. I was the 8-year-old who knew all the words to Darling Nicky, Little Red Corvette, and Head ( don’t tell my Mama).  And despite my infatuation and obsession with Michael Jackson, Prince was the one who I stuck with.

He one who I took with me into my adulthood.

I watched Under The Cherry Moon…more than once.

I bought every single album…even the weird ones where he was just a symbol.

I have them ALL.

He was the only artist I have ever camped out to get tickets for. The one who I would spend my last possible dime to see.

He was IT for me.

I never even considered his passing because…I mean look at him. Did he look like a man who was aging?

I think that is part of the shock. I expected him to be there. As a part of my world, giving me new music, springing surprise concerts on me, throwing shade at someone.

Sigh.

So,

I’m sharing the photos I took last Thursday on my birthday. It was SUCH a good day. Mainly because I knew that at 10 pm, I would be seeing Prince on stage at the Fox.

It was magical.

It was the most perfect 40th birthday gift I could give myself.

It was everything I expected and more.

It was a pleasure and an honor to wave my hand in the air and sing Purple Rain with him one more time.

It’s the end of an era.

RIP Prince…