7.21.16

It’s been 3 months and the ✨✨✨transcendence✨✨✨ is still replayed in my mind. The life and legacy of Prince is everlasting. Always bouncing through the music and alive through the melody. With each song and rhythm of funk – I still feel the ✨✨✨transcendence✨✨✨. He’s forever embedded in the countless transformations left in every note of his sound. I still miss the constant mystery. The whole aura that multiples when you literally have no idea what can come next. The “You Never Know What Might Happen” The random invites to a party.

He may perform or he might just be teasing to keep us guessing. The new releases of music. (Even more so The Paisley Park Listening Sessions) The conversations that made everyone in the room silent. Prince was more than a musician who lived in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Anyone who followed along the ride was guaranteed a new experience. He encouraged us to surrender your expectations. He talked in a unique way – using words, letters, numbers, colors, and even symbols to convey his meaning. (Who else do you know – could be recognized by a symbol?)

If you listened to the sound at all – you know! Damn. This is not only fun but life changing. He had us so hooked – one could not plan to do anything on Friday or Saturday because those days likely something may happen!

We began to count on a PPAD by studying the moon. Also the correlation between the number 7. He spoiled us and started to actually remind us when another party was near when the moon was either full or new. Sometimes – the party’s just happened privately and you needed the invite. 😀

I’m taking, this time, to reflect and to be thankful again to be apart of the experience. I’m pretty proud and thankful that it happened while I was alive. To step into that space. The feel of his studios. The smell of anticipation.

Conducting the studio tours at Paisley Park was an unforgettable experience. I remember going on one for the first time in September and was blessed by the opportunity to see real life history in each of his studios. Joshua Welton gave an amazing detailed breakdown of the studios while also giving us an exclusive listen to HitNRun Phase One. After finishing the tour – Kirk told me “Prince wants you to do the tours – will you be ready tomorrow?”

Wait. What. Pause.

Tomorrow?

He assured me I got the gig and this shouldn’t come as a surprise because they had prepared me for this all along.

I was sent bullet points on to what to say and it became a usual gig each time Prince opened up the doors at Paisley. What a blessing. Surprises were constant and it always exceeded the last experience.

I remember one distinct time a couple of friends and myself was invited to Paisley Park for a music video for Judith Hill. A lot of us showed up but we couldn’t be at Paisley until I was told when to come in. We met up at Houlihan’s for what felt like hours – just waiting for confirmation. I got the call only to be told it was canceled – and while we were all a bit upset we laughed and just shared Prince stories all throughout the night. A couple of the faithful ones were called ‘The True Blues” because we were always truly there. Always there to support and show our love for everyone involved in the Paisley experience.

Another time I got a call that a party was happening at Paisley Park. A couple of friends were invited and while Prince didn’t show up – Hannah’s and Josh’s (3EG) family were there and we danced with them and were invited to the kitchen to eat some food. They called this event a ‘Family Affair” we were delighted to be there. I told Kirk – Since we are family and all “Where is the aluminum foil?” Haha! He got a kick out of that – they didn’t have any foil but plenty of cups for us take with us! (Some of the best food I’ve ever tasted too!)

We were always down for him regardless of what did or didn’t happen.

It wasn’t that long ago – and while seeing Prince always felt like a dream or some kind of distant ethereal dimension experience. I still miss him around and miss the humor and engulfing parade. I miss him on Twitter and his clever wit. His T.A.D. (Tweet and Delete) He’s left me with so many life-changing memories and I’ll never forget them. Thankful for the countless memories and great friends that were brought forth. “So much work to do…Everywhere. That’s what this is about. The Work. PT. Everlasting Now.

There Will Never Be Another Like Him – or like you. So let’s add more colors, numbers, symbols, and anything else to your own story – so we can do the work and remind people luv4oneanother is the only way.