NEW YEAR’S EVE, PART 1

I spent New Year’s Eve 1992 in Minneapolis with friends I met from the Controversy Fan Club. Since we weren’t allowed upstairs during much the Convention; we were hanging out downstairs in the store. Bored and impatient and I went upstairs to ask for some of the members whom I had met at the Convention. We hoped one of them would come out and talk to us. What the heck, we wanted to get up into the “Members Only” area. To my surprise; we accomplished it.

I asked the guy at the “Members Only” door if he knew “so and so.” I can’t even remember if it was a real person, then began explaining my Convention visit. He said,

“You go find her, I don’t have the time,” and walked off!

We bolted through the magical entrance before he realized what he had done and returned to kick us out.

Magical it was, just to the right of the door were real high tables with bar stools on one side and continuous seating along the wall. The first table had “Reserved” on it: his table. There were more tables and booths all the way down to the second corner which led to the restroom. Coming around full circle square back to the Bar which took up the whole 4^th wall. The middle was open to the first floor. There were several large beautiful murals of Prince. It was like a dream.

We walked around the entire second floor. I figured if I never got upstairs again I would have fun this night. As we came full circle near the entrance, I noticed a white woman with a bouffant-style hairdo had come in and was sitting at Prince’s table! Several large black men were with her. I assumed she was his new protege. As I approached the table, I noticed many more people on the second floor, I could not figure out where they all came from. They appeared to be moving in slow motion. As I got closer, breath left my body, and my chest tightened up. The white woman was none other than…

PRINCE ROGERS NELSON!

Rumor had it he was filming the video Damn U that night in the VIP room, he was dressed, and the hair looked like it. He was wearing a black outfit and a white coat. Before I knew what I was doing, I had darted to the bar and was holding onto it for dear life. I didn’t know what to do, he was less than 10 yards away from me for the first time in my life! I noticed a pillar across from me was, and I made a run for it. I hid behind it and peeked at him so he couldn’t see me. I got a good look at him this time. He had a lot of makeup on, and the hair was almost theatrical piled on his head. He was staring straight forward, looking down the path I had just… come… from!

Everyone always told me I would be so calm when I met him, but I was having a meltdown. Until this moment, I was quite content with never meeting him, and now he was so close; I had to meet him. I had on a black blazer, pink turtleneck, black jeans and low-heeled black boots. My shoulder length black hair pulled back from my face and had little makeup on. I thought about all women I met at the convention who told me about his preference for girls wearing as little as possible. I’m wasn’t trying to reach him that way, I had to be myself. I wanted to be a fan; being a one night stand or flava-of-the-month did not appeal to me. Especially after hearing about his appetites for the ladies.

Waiting for my heart to slow down, I stepped out of my hiding place, ready to boldly approach the six or seven bodyguards surrounded him. They did not look friendly. I noticed one of his band members strolling towards Prince’s table and made a mad dash for him. One of my friends beat me to him, which was perfect. I pretended to listen to her babbling to the band member; she was nervous too. He was kind to indulge us, I am sure he knew we were using him to spy on Prince, but he didn’t seem to care. I was trying to see what Prince was up to surveying the territory and studying how to get past the bodyguards to get to him.

He had not moved a muscle, sitting quiet and still as a mouse. It was weird. I tried to pretend I was interested in the conversation I was eavesdropping on, but I couldn’t take my eyes off MY PRINCE. After all these years, I was so close to him!

FOR THE FIRST TIME!

I COULD NOT BREATHE!

He was still staring straight ahead. I turned to see what he was looking at and saw nothing or no one, in particular, I turned back only to see him… looking at me!

OH BOY!

He had put his elbow on the table, his chin was resting in the palm of his hand, and he was staring, with those eyes… at me! I almost fainted. He smiled, I froze, caught like a deer in headlights. I postponed my plan to talk to him until my heart resumed beating again.

He vanished right before my eyes!

He got up and slipped past me with a flick of his long white coat, and he was gone. How rude! Stare us—interruptus and I hadn’t been satisfied yet, although I felt like I needed a cigarette…

I ran after him, I admit it. I am embarrassed, but I did it. I ran out of the “Members Only” door and crept down the second-floor stairs trying to be nonchalant as if nobody could see me. I heard tires squealing from the stairwell and reached a window in time to hear a gray limo speed down the street. It must have been right at the door. My heart sank, I still couldn’t breathe or talk. I was half-hurt, half-happy. My first encounter with Prince! He noticed me, smiled at me, and then!

Gone!

This was going to take a while to get over…

It was 1 A.M. when he ran out, closing time. He left to avoid the crowd! Yeah, yeah, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. At any rate was officially New Year’s 1993, who needed New Year’s Rockin Eve, this was much better.