Prince is an example of how far you can get with confidence. Homeboy was a 5′ 3″ Jehovah’s Witness who insisted on staying in Minnesota. He wore guyliner, ruffled shirts and heels, and STILL pulled off being a sex symbol to women everywhere. He just owned it.
The loss of his talent hurt more than when Michael Jackson died. It was without the infamy of sex abuse allegations, and as an artist, he wrote his own music and played his own instruments. So I expressed my grief in a creative way. In the winter of 2017 we placed a Princemas tree in our front yard! It was…everything.
I spray-painted a white tree purple, with purple lights, purple ornaments, and nestled his head on top – ringed by an angelic halo of silver tinsel.
This cheeky homage cheered up my neighbors, then strangers. I’d pass by my living room window and see revelers taking photos outside. So I added a chair with a purple pillow, and a chalkboard sign urging visitors to take photos. Then #MerryPrincemas popped up online, with our tree. Unlike most dreaded comment sections, it was pure cheer.
Then letters started arriving in the mail – holiday cards from strangers thanking us. Soon after, we came home to see people had added purple icicle lights, with a cool dripping effect. Someone had even fixed the stand so the tree would not blow over in high winds.
The tree made a return for the 2018 holiday season. And with an upgrade – white doves.
Merry Princemas, everyone!
Fayeruz Regan 