I've been a Prince fan since the early 80s, seeing him in concert everywhere from small venues to Paisley Park to big arenas — mostly with my bestie Robbin Lang, who now creates amazing Prince-related art. In the early-to-mid 90s, I was doing hair and nails in Uptown Minneapolis. A friend who toured with Prince as his make-up artist asked if I'd be interested in doing nails for someone new to the city. In walked Mayte — beautiful, wearing a black cape that blew around her as she came through the door. Sweet, shy, and quiet. I never asked many questions about Prince, respecting her privacy. She'd tell me small things — how he'd call ahead to reserve an entire movie theater for them — and it was so cool seeing him through her eyes. One day she came in wearing a HUGE solitaire diamond ring. On that finger. I asked if she was engaged. She said she wasn't allowed to say. So I knew. No one knew. For a long, long time, I didn't say a word. Eventually I was summoned to Paisley Park to do her nails. The first time, I was told she wasn't ready — still rehearsing — and asked if I could wait in the Soundstage. It was Prince, Mayte, the NPG, the sound and light guy, and me. I watched them rehearse for about an hour and a half. A private concert, just for me. Mayte kept catching my eye and mouthing 'I'm sorry!!' I gave her the keep going sign. I didn't want it to end. After that visit, they asked if I could come back the following weekend to help with make-up for Prince's NBA All-Star Game after-party. We arrived early, got a tour of one of his studios, sat behind the soundboard — and were asked if we wanted to be extras in a music video. Nona Gaye, a room set up like a bar. Those were my nails on the Arsenio Hall show. That's me in the poster with the top hat. After Prince passed, I worked at Paisley Park as a tour guide for five and a half years. So many memories. So lucky to have shared so many of them with Robbin.
