Dear Prince,

Well my good man, sadly, your party has ended. I was sitting in my photography class (my professor is quite the fan) when we were told by a classmate about the news. Of course, I didn't understand right away, because I confused the word "Prince" with "Prints" (I was in a photography class after all).

It was like the classic mistake from Animaniacs which I didn't even know about until recently

Once I realized it was about you, a huge part of me was in denial. I thought to myself, "No, he can't be gone! I haven't seen him live yet! It must be fake news." Sadly, this was not the case. You have been part of my life from the beginning. No really, from the VERY beginning.

My parent's first date was the movie, "Purple Rain," at a drive-in movie theater in 1984 . Every year on their anniversary, they would try to watch it, until my father passed away. I guess they loved your movie, huh?

My little sister was born with a permanent soft voice because of her premature birth. Most people can't hear her and have to ask her more than twice to understand what she said. She would get frustrated, self-conscious, almost to a point where it seemed like she would give up trying to talk at all. I remember one day, she was sitting on her bed, passionately singing, "When Doves Cry".

I'll never forget the look on her face, intense with joy, singing every word as loud as she could. I like to think that was the day she started to really listen to music.

The first time I decided to take a long drive by myself, I had your greatest hits album playing the entire time. Enjoying the summer wind in my hair, jamming out to "Kiss," "I Would Die 4 U," and enjoying my youth in the moment. (Sadly, I was not driving a "Little Red Corvette.")

You will be missed dearly, but we will never forget the flamboyant, funky and purple Prince you have taught us to love. Your music, your movie, your style, each one of your talents has made a significant mark on our world's culture from the late 1980s to now. It was your charm, focus, and attitude that everyone found unique and admired. It was also what personally influenced each and every one of your fans and their children. You brought the world together, quite literally, on the night of December 31st, 1998.

Thank you for exposing us to your world through the music you created. For teaching us to break the rules, allow ourselves to be heartbroken, and create art through every good or bad experience that happens to us. Thank you for creating music, and dedicating your entire life to making it.

Stay purple, you "Sexy M.F"