annalizer said:

LBrent said:

Why?

We've seen him in his drawers.

Why, since he wasn't shy about the public seeing him being sexual, why would him being just as candid about not having sex?

From my recollection he never talked openly about his "actual"sex life. I thought it was refreshing.

My bad...I thought you meant you were shoceked cuz an adult, especially a man, would be embarrassed to be celibate.

LBrent said:

No prob. I'm sure he knew exactly how to take of "himself"!😉
[Edited 4/6/17 18:11pm]

purplethunder3121 said:

Ohh chile, ya'll something else

disch said:

That stood out to me too -- from a young age, she was a pretty worldly person, and seemed quite comfortable hopping on a plane (or in an RV) and heading to a new country. And I didn't realize the intensity of her early dancing career.

-

On a separate note, her description of her parents did make me a little uneasy. They both seemed dazzled by the idea of Mayte spending time with Prince, in a way that went beyond just trying to capitalize on professional dance opportunities. As a 16-year-old, Mayte mentions spending all night (platonically) alone with Prince, and her mother seemed more than happy for that to happen. Her mom seemed like a big Prince fan (she was super-excited that Prince tour was called the Nude Tour), and there did appear to a be a living vicariously vibe going on. (Generally, her parents gave her a lot of freedom, it sounds like, whether to see R-rated movies like Flashdance when she was 10 years old, or flying internationally with just her sister.)

-

And someone mentioned above that her parents were comparable to parents of a competitive athlete or similar. I agree to a certain extent, but Mayte's specialty -- belly dancing -- attracts a certain sexual attention that a typical sport wouldn't. So there was something a bit uncomfortable for me reading about how her mom egged her career on.

206Michelle said:

Mayte was quite well travelled, even before she met Prince. She went 2 Egypt, Puerto Rico, Alabama, Maryland, Germany, Spain, and probably other places as well before she turned 18. Very cool!

I felt both of these things, too. Very much.

I also was very surprised with Mayte's impressive dancing credentials, especially the ballet. Honestly, I always thought she was a pretty girl, but not much more.

LBrent said:

What's The Purple Harem?

annalizer said:

LBrent said:

I felt both of these things, too. Very much.

I also was very surprised with Mayte's impressive dancing credentials, especially the ballet. Honestly, I always thought she was a pretty girl, but not much more.

What's The Purple Harem?

Think the various muses, protegees, etc.

disch said:

That stood out to me too -- from a young age, she was a pretty worldly person, and seemed quite comfortable hopping on a plane (or in an RV) and heading to a new country. And I didn't realize the intensity of her early dancing career.

-

On a separate note, her description of her parents did make me a little uneasy. They both seemed dazzled by the idea of Mayte spending time with Prince, in a way that went beyond just trying to capitalize on professional dance opportunities. As a 16-year-old, Mayte mentions spending all night (platonically) alone with Prince, and her mother seemed more than happy for that to happen. Her mom seemed like a big Prince fan (she was super-excited that Prince tour was called the Nude Tour), and there did appear to a be a living vicariously vibe going on. (Generally, her parents gave her a lot of freedom, it sounds like, whether to see R-rated movies like Flashdance when she was 10 years old, or flying internationally with just her sister.)

-

And someone mentioned above that her parents were comparable to parents of a competitive athlete or similar. I agree to a certain extent, but Mayte's specialty -- belly dancing -- attracts a certain sexual attention that a typical sport wouldn't. So there was something a bit uncomfortable for me reading about how her mom egged her career on.

206Michelle said:

Mayte was quite well travelled, even before she met Prince. She went 2 Egypt, Puerto Rico, Alabama, Maryland, Germany, Spain, and probably other places as well before she turned 18. Very cool!

disch,

I agree with your points about Mayte's parents. My parents never let me see R-rated movies at such a young age. I remember in 1997 when I was 11, going to see Titanic (PG-13) with my mom and sister. When Jack starts painting Rose in the nude, my mom takes her coat and covers my head and my sister's head . (For the record, I would probably do the same thing if I was in my mom's shoes.) Anyway, I remember peeping out from under the coat because I wanted to see what what was happening in the movie.

--

But back to your point about Mayte's parents. I agree that it was unsettling. I was like, "They REALLY let her spend time with Prince alone at such a young age?" Just think if he had done something inappropriate with her, like that would fall on them as parents. I mean the man was 32 years old in the summer of 1990 and Mayte was 16; he was twice her age. My parents NEVER would have allowed me to go hang out alone with a 32 year-old-guy in a hotel room. There were a couple of times as a teenager when I went and practiced one-on-one with my track and field coach, who was a man in his early 30s, and my parents didn't come (but knew that I was going and were fine with it). But my parents and I had already known my coach for a couple of years and I was practicing in a public place (outdoor track and field facility).

--

I have no idea why her parents would allow such a situation, especially given that Prince was someone that they hardly knew. Perhaps they thought that he wouldn't be stupid enough to do anything inappropriate because it could tarnish his reputation or get him in serious legal trouble. But why would they even take that kind of a chance? Seems like a high risk-high reward situation...I wouldn't take the risk if that was my child. But I agree, I can't understand the mentality of Mayte's parents regarding allowing her to hang out alone with Prince.

[Edited 4/6/17 18:26pm]

LBrent said:

Hot butt naked sex b4 shows?

206Michelle said:

This is how powerful Princes image was. Now, if it were Rick James, I'm sure it would have been a flat out No!

annalizer said:

LBrent said:

Think the various muses, protegees, etc.

Hot butt naked sex b4 shows?

It was a joke, but yes...That's what I was jokingly implying.

Okay, something is niggling at me. I love Mayte but I need to play devils advocate. If Mayte was such a feisty young girl, she was earning all that moolah, fiercely independent and had travelled extensively, why does she seem to convert to a shy, naive little girl once she moves to Minnesota? She wasn't "in love" right away so it can't be that. I can't help wondering if she's slightly exaggerated her early career potential because she's tired of having lived with "golddigger" comments for years. There, I said it!

LBrent said:

Oh, aight! 😁

LBrent said:

petalthecat said:

Okay, something is niggling at me. I love Mayte but I need to play devils advocate. If Mayte was such a feisty young girl, she was earning all that moolah, fiercely independent and had travelled extensively, why does she seem to convert to a shy, naive little girl once she moves to Minnesota? She wasn't "in love" right away so it can't be that. I can't help wondering if she's slightly exaggerated her early career potential because she's tired of having lived with "golddigger" comments for years. There, I said it!

Nah, I doubt it cuz those things wouldn't be difficult to find out if she lied.

I think part of it was being away from her family, she was still young and it must've been intimidating on some level to be on the inside of the Purple Universe WITH the Purple One not just someone slightly connected to PP insider, but THE guy all of it is about.

She also mentions that folks really didn't want to steps on P's toes.

[Edited 4/6/17 18:54pm]

annalizer said:

206Michelle said:

disch,

I agree with your points about Mayte's parents. My parents never let me see R-rated movies at such a young age. I remember in 1997 when I was 11, going to see Titanic (PG-13) with my mom and sister. When Jack starts painting Rose in the nude, my mom takes her coat and covers my head and my sister's head . (For the record, I would probably do the same thing if I was in my mom's shoes.) Anyway, I remember peeping out from under the coat because I wanted to see what what was happening in the movie.

--

But back to your point about Mayte's parents. I agree that it was unsettling. I was like, "They REALLY let her spend time with Prince alone at such a young age?" Just think if he had done something inappropriate with her, like that would fall on them as parents. I mean the man was 32 years old in the summer of 1990 and Mayte was 16; he was twice her age. My parents NEVER would have allowed me to go hang out alone with a 32 year-old-guy in a hotel room. There were a couple of times as a teenager when I went and practiced one-on-one with my track and field coach, who was a man in his early 30s, and my parents didn't come (but knew that I was going and were fine with it). But my parents and I had already known my coach for a couple of years and I was practicing in a public place (outdoor track and field facility).

--

I have no idea why her parents would allow such a situation, especially given that Prince was someone that they hardly knew. Perhaps they thought that he wouldn't be stupid enough to do anything inappropriate because it could tarnish his reputation or get him in serious legal trouble. But why would they even take that kind of a chance? Seems like a high risk-high reward situation...I wouldn't take the risk if that was my child. But I agree, I can't understand the mentality of Mayte's parents regarding allowing her to hang out alone with Prince.

[Edited 4/6/17 18:26pm]

This is how powerful Princes image was. Now, if it were Rick James, I'm sure it would have been a flat out No!

annalizer, I definitely agree with U about Rick James!

petalthecat said:

I think she was crushing on him hard from the beginning. Perhaps not in love per se but definitely smitten. I don't get the shy vibe really. Naive yes in romantic matters. Doesn't sound like she had much experience with dating and such. So that put her at a disadvantage regarding relationships with the opposite sex.

sonshine said:

LBrent said:

Gurl, I was outnumbered...5 kids...aged 5 year old, 2 and a half year old twins and newborn twins.

I wasn't havin all that damned arguing. If you have someone else's color, give it back. Period.

They're all adults now, though, and I have 2 granddaughters.

I survived.

206Michelle said:

annalizer said:

206Michelle said: This is how powerful Princes image was. Now, if it were Rick James, I'm sure it would have been a flat out No!

annalizer, I definitely agree with U about Rick James!

Actually, Rick James woulda been a HELL NO!!!

206Michelle said:

When will the Chapter 2 talking points be added? Or did I miss them? (I just want to add right now that the book is much better than I expected and I'm glad I decided to get it after all.)

Here are my take-aways on chapter 2

.

She wasn’t a fan of P like her sister, but the psychological warfare in the (movie) family drew her to the PR movie (it resembled her own family situation), yet she listened to purple rain all the time. She says her sister was the real Prince fan, I wonder if she realized how much she was too? Did that draw her to him later in life?

.

Her mother was a strict catholic but lived with a guy with her young children? (Sorry, I hope I don’t get kicked off the thread for expressing my continuing displeasure with Mayte’s mother.) Yet to say something positive about her mom, dance school 90 mins away, that’s a 3 hour round trip. Hard to believe they (her mom and her) made this trip three times a week.

.

(oh here I go again…) She let her 16 area old daughter stay with a man in a hotel for the night. No matter that they just talked, it’s the appearance… idk, just wrong. I wonder if her mother wanted something to happen? It would be her ticket out of Germany.

.

sheepish, one more mom statement. She knew her 16 year daughter was getting ‘tips’ tucked into her costume by strange men.

.

She was a typical teenager in many respects, stayed in her room a lot, listened to music, challenged our parents/mother to shave our legs (wear makeup etc), and many girls feel alone in adolescence.

.

Her mother takes the kids and reunites with her father in Germany… she knew her mother made a mistake and ‘learned that mistakes aren’t necessarily forever’ and 'Second chances happen’ . She lived the last 25 years with that belief in mind with regards to Prince.

.

The whole description of trips to Egypt baffle me. Weren’t there tailors / seamstresses in Germany? If bellydancing was so big at the time, you would think someone closer to her home would open a costume shop. I live in NY, anything I would need to find, I can find in NYC, I wouldn’t even have to go to another state. Maybe IDK… maybe I just have a small town mentality (not saying that in a negative way). I got the feeling it was her mothers way (excuse) to get out of the house and take a trip/vacation. The whole topic is confusing to me.

.

Seems pretty fearless to get up on stage and dance when the guy… Amor Diab.. called her on stage.

.

She still looks back on P’s MTV interview, and it 'makes her ache to see him so young'. She describes his look, his face, his being with such love. And she imagines her son. ...tears...

~DD55

LBrent said:

206Michelle said:

annalizer, I definitely agree with U about Rick James!

Actually, Rick James woulda been a HELL NO!!!

LBrent said:

That's wonderful! Still a heroic feat imo

LBrent said:

I try to keep my swearing down to once a day since I used it earlier 😁

purplethunder3121 said:

😂😂😂

206Michelle said:

Can post the timeline 4 chapter 2 yet? Looks like some people have skipped to the end of the book already.

Yes please do.

.

Looks like the chapter thing is out the door.

sonshine said:

LBrent said:

They're all adults now, though, and I have 2 granddaughters.

I survived.

That's wonderful! Still a heroic feat imo

Thanx.

one more thought...

I guess my over all summary of what I saw: she didn’t learn normal man/woman boundaries at age appropriate points in her life. She traveled the world but didn’t have a clue about relationships and the boundires between strangers (money stuffed into her costume). Since her childhood was so unique, when P came along, even though was strong willed did she let herself be overshadowed by him because she didn’t have any of normal boy friend/girl friend relationships that most teenagers have?

Thank you Michelle.

206Michelle said:

Note: If it is too early for me to post this, please let me know and I will remove it (or a moderator can remove it). I don't want to spoil the book for anyone.

Chapter Two Timeline

Just to refresh everyone's memories, chapter 1 ends with this:

1984 – Jan, Nellie (Mama), and Mayte go to see the movie Purple Rain.

..

Now, onward to chapter two!

1984 – Jan and Mayte are instantly obsessed with all things Purple Rain. The music of Purple Rain defines the summer of 1984.

..

1985 – Mayte watches Prince’s MTV interview on a bootlegged MTV tape that Grandma Nelly sent her. MTV shot the interview while Prince was filming his video for “America” (from ATWIAD).

..

1985 – Mayte tells her mother that she is going to marry Prince or Luis Miguel.

..

1984-1985 – In the midst of the Purple Rain craze, Mayte’s parents divorce. Her transfers to Wiesbaden Army Airfield (WAAF) in Germany. Jan and Mayte move to Maryland to live with their mother and her boyfriend.

..

Around 1985-1986 – Mayte is 12 years old and Mama enrolls her in dance classes at the prestigious Washington School of Ballet (WSB) in Washington, DC.

..

Around 1985-1986 – Mayte has her first period. She has a rough time in school going through puberty and being on the receiving end of teasing.

..

Around 1985-1986 – Mayte and her mother’s boyfriend have a confrontation when he tells her that her room is messy. He puts his hands on Mayte. Mayte calls her mother at work about this incident. Mayte never sees this boyfriend of her mother’s again. Within days, she and Jan fly to Germany. Mama joins them in Germany a week or 2 later. The family settles into life in the Hainerberg community in Weisbaden.

..

Around 1985-1986 to 1991-1992 – The newly reunited Garcia family lives together in Weisbaden for the next 6 years. Mayte’s parents have an unorthodox relationship.

~~~~~~~

Michelle’s note: I’m trying to be as objective and straightforward as possible with the timeline. That said, Mayte makes a point here (page 39) which I think is very significant, and I will paraphrase what she says. Regarding her parents’s unorthodox relationship, Mayte frames her parents’s unorthodox relationship as a second chance. A belief in second chances led her to believe that she and Prince would eventually remarry. Believing that she and Prince would remarry prevented her from feeling bitter toward him and prevented her from fully moving on with her life while he was alive.

~~~~~~~

Now back to the timeline....

Around 1986-1987 (The summer after moving back to Germany) – Jan and Mayte go to see their grandmothers in Puerto Rico. Their parents join them in Puerto Rico and announce that they have remarried.

..

Mid to late 1980s – Mayte has more than $100,000 in her checking account. (She didn’t spend much of the money she earned.)

..

Around 1988 – Mayte gets her learner’s permit at age 15. Jan starts college.

..

Late 1980s – Mayte recives an invitation to make a demo recording at a small record company based in Frankfurt. The company did not sign her.

..

Around 1988-1989 – Mayte and Mama travel to Cairo, Egypt. They go to Madame Abla’s shop in Cairo. Madame Abla makes tailor-made belly dancing outfits for Mayte. Mayte and Mama return to visit Madame Abla every 9 months or so. Mayte gains a lot of exposure to Egyptian culture and learns some Arabic on these trips.

..

November 1989 – Mayte turns 16 (for real this time). She and her parents take a trip to Egypt.

..

November 12, 1989 – On her birthday, Mayte dances onstage with Amr Diab --- who would go on to become the best-selling Middle Eastern recording artist of all time --- at an event at the Sheraton El Gezirah.

..

November 13, 1989 – Mayte auditions to dance at the Nubian Tent restaurant and the Heliopolis Sheraton, a magnificent hotel northeast of Cairo. The audition goes well, but Mayte and her parents fly back to Germany.

..

Late 1989 or 1990 – Mayte earns her driver’s license (in Germany).

..

1990 – Mayte and Mama are planning their summer trip to Egypt, when they learn some terrible news. First, George Abdo called Mama to tell her that Amir died of AIDS. Second, a terrible fire happens at the Heliopolis Sheraton, with people dying and the hotel sustaining damage.

..

Summer of 1990 – Instead of going to Egypt, the Garcia family takes a camping trip in Spain. The family has to choose between a Celia Cruz and Tito Puente concert or a Prince concert. Mama reads in the newspaper that Prince’s tour is called the Nude Tour, and decides that the family is going to see Prince.

206Michelle said:

I'm pretty sure her and MT hashed that out by now
She kept it classy throughout
I found the LG stuff interesting
Considering all the negativity being thrown her way
I knew that the folks doing it haven't read the book
If they did, they'd praise her for siding with the majority of our feelings about Larry.
[Edited 4/6/17 19:21pm]

DD55 said:

That whole Egyptian experience sure captured something in Prince because he really played up that theme for a time.
The only thing so far I'm left wanting to know more about are his family dynamics. Anyway, back to work for a bit lol
[Edited 4/6/17 19:22pm]