But never have I been a blue calm sea
I have always been a storm 

Stephanie “Stevie” Lynn Nicks is a musician.
A muse.
A philanthropist.
A poet.
And to some, a preacher.

I arrived at the party far too late. The crowd had begun to filter out, all the horderves were long gone and the DJ had already played the most requested tunes. This is how I felt when I was first introduced to Stevie Nicks in the mid 2000s. I felt like the party had started at 7 and I had arrived at 10:30. The party was still raging on but most of the fun had already been had. But that’s no matter, I’m here now. My Zimbabwean father’s a big fan of the classic - classic songs, movies and cars - and much of my childhood was spent watching reruns of Elvis movies, listening to all things reggae and admiring his car figures (behind glass, of course). He also had a love for Fleetwood Mac. I first saw Nicks on the cover art for Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. Her arms were draped with a floaty chiffon sleeves, her never changing haircut was prominent and she looked like a cross between a bat, a ballerina and a doll. I was intrigued. Go Your Own Way was the first song I could recite in its entirety and it still holds a very special place in my heart to this day. I didn’t understand its meaning then, I was far too concerned with playing outside and climbing my grandma’s mango trees to care about love but boy, do I feel the words now.

So, to Stephanie Lynn Nicks, thank you.

We’re yet to cross paths but you, the original Gold Dust Woman, and your words have guided my walk through this adventure we call life.