Okay, so you don't know me, I think maybe I've posted on here once or twice before, long time ago. But I was compelled today to come and give thanks to the Be and the G.
I was sad to read of the lower leg amputation, but I know that Be will overcome.
It's been three years since my previous employer became my "previous employer", and the company is pretty much gone as far as anyone can tell, so I consider it safe to tell, as they say, "the rest of the story".
So firstly, a short introduction. P.M. Dawn has been, probably, my favorite thing to listen to since I was a very young lad. My cousin and I listed to the cd's over and over again, and memorized all the lyrics. It isn't often that someone can make a CD that you can listen to from beginning to end, and Prince Be has done this over and over. My cousin - our birthdays were 3 months apart so we were always close-- was killed in a car accident many years ago, so this has intensified my love for P.M. Dawn, because he was the person with whom I enjoyed the CDs, memorized the CDs, and sang the CDs at full volume while driving down the highway...
When I was sent my by employer to attend a concert and "get a quote if you can" I was happy-- "cool- they're going to pay me to go see my favorite group!", but I never imagined the welcome arms I would be walking into. I missed the show I was supposed to be at (somewhere in north and middle of the US!) due to the wonderful airlines... so my managing editor says "they'll be in Lincoln tomorrow night. Get a rental and drive down there."
He also tells me that he can't reach their agent and they don't seem to have a road manager, so just "buy a $8 ticket, take some pictures with that fancy camera we gave you" and if they have an autograph line "get in that and introduce yourself."
I get a little sleep, then start driving. I get to the venue many hours early, and there's nothing to do (yeah, did I mention it was Lincoln, Nebraska?!!!??), so I sit outside. I can hear them doing a sound check inside. Someone comes outside and says "you're here early!" and without even thinking (it was like something else was moving my arms and mouth!) I yank out my press card and blurt out "I came from NYC-- do you know if they would have time for a question or two?" He checks my credentials with a quizzical look...
"Probably, come on in."
What happened next exceeded all my expectations, and I had to continually remind myself, "keep jaw up. be professional. right now, you're being paid to be here, so you can't be a fan." If my boss *knew* the level of fan-ness within me, he would have sent someone else, I can assure you. :)
Prince Be and the Doc welcomed me like a long lost brother. And I'm a white kid, by the way. I hung out for the rest of the sound check, they answered all of my questions and I took a million pictures. (which, unfortunately, I do not own the rights to, so I don't even have a copy of!!! Bah!!)
They headed out west to continue the tour, and I headed back to NYC.
A few months later, I got word that they were going to have a concert in Brooklyn, so I rang up Giggles and verified the time and place. When I got there, again, I was welcomed with open arms. And a hug. They invited me into the VIP-pre-concert-room where they told stories from the road. I have never felt so welcomed anywhere. The actual "concert" was a blast- it was G's birthday and there were only about a dozen of us there, so it was just a fun time. I think Cozmo D was there-- he can confirm or deny? Remember the story about being shot at in LA? We laughed so hard it hurt.
I've already gone on longer than you wanted to read, so I'll get to the point. Today, I was feeling a bit melancholy, and I had "No Further Damage" playing in my head. I don't know why. Over and over, like my brain is on "repeat one" mode.
I get out the CD and pop it in, skip to track 9 and turn it up. Before I know it, I've worked my way through Hale-Bopp, Faith In You, Broken, and Untitled, and I hear [dearest] Christian. "daddy you finished your la-las?" "come on daddy" "come on daddy", and I remember Lincoln Nebraska again-- Christian was there-- with all that hair, and we were introduced-- he was so quiet, so well behaved... and my head says "does he know that he is the son of the Prince Be? Does he know that the entire album is for him? Does he know the poetic talent of daddy?" and "I can't believe he's this old already! How old does that make ME?" while I just smile and nod... "it's good to meet you Mr. Christian." He smiled.
So today, I've got all my PM Dawn loaded (even "greatest hits and misses") and it's a beautiful day here in Oklahoma. Life is good.
"You, me, and time. We always are, because we never were."
Jeremy
