It was 1:20pm on Thursday April 21, 2016 when I saw a text message notification on my phone. I opened it and my brother had sent me a screenshot of this…..
The Associated PressVerified account@AP
BREAKING: Publicist: Pop music superstar Prince has died at his home in suburban Minneapolis.
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I screamed out loud. Mind you, I am a high school teacher and students were still in the classroom. Here is how the immediate moments played out:
Me: Drops phone on counter:: opens laptop and scrolls through my twitter @PopStyleBlog account
Student A: “Are you ok?”
Me: Shakes head slowly as my mouth gaps open… mumbling to myself “Oh my gosh!”
Student B: “Ms. McKinnon are you ok?”
Me: Picks up cell phone and says under my breath “I have to text Khristi.”
Students: (Whispering) “I think she got bad news guys.”
Me: texting best friend Khristi- “R u Ok?”
Student A: “Ms. McKinnon what happened? Are u ok”
Me:

“What? Oh sorry guys. But Prince died!”
Students: “Who?”
Me: “Prince….. the singer!”
Students: “Oh… the old guy with the hair?”
Me:

GET OUT!!!
RIP Prince Rogers Nelson. The doves in heaven and earth are crying for you. (1958-2016) #PopStyle
~Ashlee Dawne