We all have something that helps us make it through the day. Whether it's coffee, nap time, work, exercise or anything else. For my mom, however, music was her outlet. But not just any music. Her outlet was Prince.
Growing up, my mom had a difficult life. Her dad worked for McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), and my mom, her older brother, older sister and younger brother traveled anywhere their father’s job asked them to go. There was no argument allowed by the kids. Nothing was taken into consideration in their lives, such as friends, entertainment or schooling. In a span of 18 years, my mother lived in six countries: Japan, Turkey, Korea, England, Scotland, and the US, to name them, with trips to Holland, Germany and France. She attended 17 schools, some of which were boarding schools. Nothing about this life was suitable for a growing woman. My mother faced hardship, she lost friends, she had to leave behind a suitcase of Barbies because her parents did not care to go back and find them, she was bullied by the other girls in her boarding schools. However, what impacted my mother’s life most of all was its inconsistency.
Throughout all of this, one thing remained steadfast. Prince. His music ignited people's hearts, flooded people's minds, and grasped people's attention. It was more than just music. It was a way of life. Crowds fainted at the sight of him. His voice and rhythm were so original that no one will ever be able to replace such a legend.
I personally grew up dancing to Prince on my living room floor. Never did I understand the impact he and his music had on my mother until his passing. My mom told me a story about her life. She began, “I had to go on a school trip with girls from my boarding school. I hated being in boarding school. We were going to Holland, and I did not want to go. I just wanted to be by myself, so I put in my Prince cassette tape and listened to him the entire trip.” She ended sadly, “I'm very sad. He {Prince} got me through that trip.” My mom's favorite quote by Prince is, “Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people.”
Prince, you said it best: “Life is just a party, and parties weren't meant to last.” So, thank you, Prince, for teaching my mom that life did not have to be as bad as it seemed. Your "Purple Rain" will forever be missed.
