This summer I have been thinking a lot about how everyone has a story, everyone has a dream. This has been made even more real to me over these days of travel. Everywhere we go it seems we have been confronted with the dreams people have aspired to, as well as the stories our collective community tells. It is helping me think of this concept in even deeper ways.
No where is this more apparent than at the Graceland Mansion, the home of Elvis Presley.
Just a little background first: I have never considered myself an Elvis fan until last year when I took a tour of RCA Studio B and had a very moving moment listening to Elvis sing "Are You Lonesome Tonight" (see this blog post for the story). Since then, I have considered myself an Elvis fan and have been steadily learning more about him.
 |
| Gold record "Are You Lonesome Tonight" |
The Elvis story is one of the most exciting, and heartbreaking, in American culture. As the story goes (heard more than once at more than one location), he was inspired to sing by his mother and his 5th grade teacher. His parents were dirt poor and he promised his mother that someday he would make a lot of money and buy a big house they could all live in. At 13 they moved to Memphis, which certainly put Elvis in the right proximity to make his dreams come true. And they did, as we all know. (More about that particular story in next blog.)
Elvis bought the Graceland mansion early on--he was only 22-- and true to his promise he moved his parents right in with him. The home was built in the 1930's and he bought it in the late 50's. It is everything a large home was at that time--sprawling rooms, some beautiful decorative work, large lawn. The house itself would have been a dream-style home for me as a child.
 |
| Beautiful front room. |
My favorite room was right when we walked in the front door-- a formal living and dining area, decorated in white and blue and peacock stained glass. I am including pictures here of some of my favorite parts, as well as some of the...um...stranger parts.
 |
| Purple poodle paper in parents' bathroom |
 |
| Portrait of Priscilla and Lisa Marie |
As the Graceland story goes, Elvis would greet you at the door and make you feel welcome. The upstairs was private, so that has been left off the tour. Of course, there is a more obvious reason, but this is the story told at Graceland. Throughout the home --all 1970's to the hilt-- we see how Elvis liked to live: formal and informal areas, game areas, television watching areas. There is even a racquetball court with a room attached for lounging and piano playing.
 |
| Elvis liked mirrored ceilings and watching 3 TVs at once |
 |
| The infamous jungle room |
As tourists led through the home, we learned about his enjoyment of his home and entertaining. We see Lisa Marie's swing set and swimming pool. Many facets of Elvis are shared: his successes musically in the form of gold and platinum records and awards received. His many costumes. His comeback in the 1960's. The wedding outfits and Army uniform. Elvis being honored by the Jaycees in 1970-- one of his most treasured honors. (See his moving speech here.). And Elvis the humanitarian. Nothing is left out, as they do even mention his addiction to prescription drugs.
 |
| What I like to call the Lehigh Lightning room |
 |
| Lisa Marie's swing set |
Then, the meditation garden which contains not just the grave of the King, but his mother and father on either side of him, his grandmother, and a marker for his twin, Jesse Caron, who died at birth. All but Jesse's stones are the same size--which is a fitting part of this story. He did not see himself larger than his parents. They were all always in it together.
We enjoyed our visit to Graceland very much. The tour is not just of the home, but also included a tour of two of his planes, as well as his collection of cars. My favorite was the 1958 pink Cadillac which he only drove for a short time then gave to his mother. Priscilla's white sportster was another favorite. He had Rolls Royce's and a whole smattering of high energy and luxury vehicles. The black Lincoln Continental was the car he had driven the morning of his death. He also had a huge collection of "toys" in the form of four-wheelers and motorcycles and jet skis and such--even a John Deere Tractor.
Graceland is in the heart of our country and it represents the best we can be as people: a place full of love and caring, of family and friendship and music. The story of Elvis and his dreams coming true is inspiring in a very grounded way. The whole time I was there, I was not feeling hero-worship. It was definitely about a man who had a dream, who counted on those around him to buoy him up, a man of faith and character. This is the story of Elvis--and it is alive and well at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
No comments:
Post a Comment