Sometimes I think about Elvis.
I know it’s an odd thing just randomly thinking of Elvis. Its not like he’s a major topic of conversation around the house. I don’t even know if Bashert likes his music.
What sparks these ruminations, I’m not sure. Perhaps I catch a snippet of a song on the radio or a phrase from one his songs. It’s not as if I knew the man, but think of him I do.
The life he led was crazy and he used some of his fame to do stupid things, but I’d like to think that underneath it all Elvis was a nice guy. Who knows what we would do in his place? I like to think that I would make a better deal of things – you know, Oprah style, but if I was ‘suddenly’ given everything I never had as a kid when I was younger, who knows? What would you do to maintain?
My family lived in Memphis for four years during the mid-sixties. We visited Graceland a couple of times before it became a fortress. I even dipped my hand in the swimming pool. My Mom says someone came out of the big house and spoke to them about something – probably along the lines of please leave the premises. We wonder now if he was in residence that trip.
This Polaroid is from 1964 and that’s me on the standing on the bench in my red and white dress. Hard to see, but that’s my sister, brother and great-grandmother in front of Graceland. Don’t we look excited? Who knew this would be the home of a legend?
I used to sing Wooden Heart to Nenè back when she was just Munchkin to me. I barely remember the movie G.I Blues, but the song makes a great lullaby. It’s kind, gentle and surprisingly sweet for a German folksong.
That’s how I like to think of Elvis when I think of Elvis – kind, gentle and surprisingly sweet.
Can’t you see
I love you
Please don’t break my heart in two
That’s not hard to do
‘cause I don’t have a wooden heart.
And if you say goodbye
Then I know that I would cry
‘cause I don’t have a wooden heart.
There’s no strings upon this heart of mine
It was always you from the start.
Treat me nice
Treat me good
Treat like you really should
‘cause I’m not made of wood
And I don’t have a wooden heart.
(words and music by Wise, Weisman, Twomey, Kaempfert)
halfcnote 
I’m glad I read this all the way to the end – I almost didn’t.
I’ll take a compliment – backhanded 🙂
But thank you for the feedback. I edited it down – reads a bit better now, I think.
Oh, you were blessed to have your pic taken in front of his home in Memphis! I love Elvis and I also believe he was a nice guy. It was in those eyes and smile of his. Love his music as well. Thanks for sharing and well written. 🙂
Thank you so much. I don’t remember much, but we must have visited several times because my parents have other pictures of us in different outfits! I do remember putting my hand in that pool and the men in the golf cart coming around. There’s also a vague memory of clambering over one of those lion statues. And yes, those smokey eyes were something else 🙂
Just saw Million Dollar Quartet in New York and it was fabulous. It was about the beginnings of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins when they were with Sun records. It was so good and so rockin’, I want to see it again…and again! Margie
How neat is that! What fun!