Trains, Kings and Teenage Girls
Elvis reigned as King all during the years in which my love of music was being formed. Oh sure, there was Bill Haley and the Comets, the Everly Brothers and many others who could bring us to a fever pitch, but Elvis was the best of the best. I knew every grunt of every song and still remember them all (much to the consternation of my sons). I fancied myself a singer back then and could easily be talked into doing Elvis impersonations complete with groans and hip swiveling. Heartbreak Hotel and Teddy Bear were two of my favorites. I fell in love with him in his first movie, Love Me Tender, and I’m just thinking I need to rent that one and lose myself in it again
I have many memories wrapped around him and his music. My first date was to a skating rink and the ‘sweethearts skate’ was Elvis’ Love me Tender playing softly as the spotlight found each couple in turn and followed them once around the floor. My second date was to the Military Ball where we danced to Elvis’ Won’t you Wear My Ring as I clasped my arms tightly to my sides from my elbows up to my shoulders to keep my strapless dress from sliding down.
I’m old enough to remember Elvis being on Ed Sullivan and the fact they only shot him from the waist up because of his ‘vulgar movements’. We’ve come a long way since those days.
He was part of my teenage years every bit as much as best friends, boyfriends, dating and dancing. He was always there – he was part of our culture. You’d hear him blaring from a jukebox while we sat at Su-Will Grill after church on Sunday nights, streaming out the open windows of a car full of girls as we circled the square on a Friday Night , or softly serenading from a radio in another car parked in the dark while someone stole a kiss or two. We knew he understood us and he was on our side. We adopted him, loved him and made him part of our lives.
We got word that his train was passing through a neighboring town and rumor had it he would come out and wave at the people at the station while the train was stopped. We were there so fast. There were as many of us as possible packed into my girlfriend’s car and off we went down the highway, smoking cigarettes and singing Elvis all the way! We quickly found a place to park the car, combed our hair and touched up our makeup and off we ran to the station. I’d say there were at least ten million people there – at least it seemed that way. I stood on tiptoe to see as best I could and finally amid all the hissing of the steam engines and the screaming and the pushing, I saw him emerge from the door of the caboose. It was him. He was right there. He was in his uniform and smiling that crooked shy smile. I screamed right along with everyone else, jumping up and down and waving my arms above my head as he looked out over the crowds.
All of a sudden the noise stopped. My arms were no longer waving and my feet were planted firmly on the ground. His gaze swept over the crowd and for the smallest instant, for just a crystal of time everything stopped. His eyes locked into mine and I understood how the entire world could be in a grain of sand. About eternity. About no beginning and no end. About no past and no future…only now. That’s how it was. It was a pristine second – maybe even half a second – but for that time, just for that time, it was just Elvis and me.
I made it through my teen years and as I worked through my 20’s and early 30’s I still had Elvis in my life and I still listened to his music. It was as if we had parallel lives. I remember it all – his marriage to Priscilla, the birth of his daughter, the succession of mediocre to bad movies, rumors of flings with Ann Margaret and others, Priscilla dating a Kung Fu teacher, the divorce, the weight gain, bizarre behavior, rumors of drugs…on and on.
Meanwhile, I had my own life with my own challenges. During a portion of the 70’s I had a particularly difficult period and it culminated with a lengthy stay in the hospital while trying to adjust medications to battle severe depression. This was in the early days of MAO Inhibitors or what they called back then the “mood levelers”. About four weeks into my stay I began to regain some confidence and actually look forward to life again. I was stronger and looking forward to going home by the week-end. Propped up in bed waiting for George to come and visit I heard the news. Elvis had been found dead on his bathroom floor – dead of an overdose of drugs so the rumors went.
He had been with me since I was twelve years old and he was maybe twenty. We both had experienced ups and downs, good times and bad during those twenty something years, but now I was coming back into the sunlight and he never would. It was such an unexpected shock as I sat there in that hospital room and I recalled that he had given a concert in our city just that past spring, regretting that we hadn’t gone.
In my imagination, I did go to that concert and somehow our eyes sought each other out across that huge arena – just long enough to say ‘hello’ and read through the years we had lived. Just long enough to pay tribute to a handsome young soldier who had the whole world in his hands and a gangly teenager girl with stars in her eyes.
I remember that performance on the Ed Sullivan show and some of those corny movies in which Elvis still maintained a sexy presence. I also remember giggling furtively over a picture of him in his underpants (when he was a soldier) when I was a young girl. It is sad to think of how his life unfolded in later years. I’m glad your path was happier.
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Very odd. No name posted on my note.
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Elvis was just old enough by the time I was a teenager that I did not appreciate him back then. But I came to realize what a force he was when I got older and I can understand the fascination for him now.
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For me it was George Harrison.
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What a beautiful, poignant story!
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Oh this is so beautiful! The skill with which you brought us with you to that train station is amazing. Thank you thank you thank you.
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we must be about the same age as this describes my younger years too. I would perform, “I want you, I need you, I love you” anytime anyone would listen. It was the movie “Loving You” when I fell in love w/him. thanks for these memories. Brought a lot back.
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What a wonderful slice of your life and emotions….:) We have a life-size cement bust of Elvis on the fireplace mantle. DC got it in trade for a six-pack of beer from some 20 something guys who had it sitting on their porch. It’s wonderfully kitch-from his white-spangled jumpsuit era.:)xo
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What a great entry! Elvis was a big part of life to many of us. You know, I was a fifties teenager when I was only a baby and toddler .. hehehe .. was just looking at a photo of when I was a baby and doing my best imitation of elvis as if I had a guitar in hand. Hilarious! Recall doing the twist when tiny also. You know how you older sisters can get us younger ones into stuff! ; ) Hugs
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I’m so glad you are here sharing your writing with us : )
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What a great story! I remember the Ed Sullivan performance too. My favorite movie was “GI Blues”.
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RYN:LOL! Oh nonono! Can’t give up the Elvis! I did post a picture of him (and his mantle-top companion) in a back entry titled “Strange Stuff Indoors”. I was having fun with my new picture-posting abilities and gave a little house tour…go and look—if you dare!:)xoxox
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I forgot how much I enjoyed reading you! You must have disappeared for a long while because I deleted you from my faves list : ( I’m so glad you stopped by! RYNblanket: I’ve put an illustration on my blanket entry to try to show you what I mean about the square. I will have a friend help me take pictures today and get those posted tonight. They are fun,!
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you remind me of my older sister, who loved anything so long as it was Elvis. The man she married even looked like him, only blonde. I was a little kid when the movies were popular, but i remember going to the downtown theater to see Viva Las Vegas…. he did have style.
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RYN: Pilates is more toning, so you wouldn’t have to worry about impact. It is very slow — and you could avoid the moves that cause you pain. Although it seems passive, there is quite a bit of challenge in holding the poses and making very disciplined movements.
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You and the King. Eyes locked on each other. At a train station. Wowie! 🙂 I inherited several of his early albums (mostly gospel), complete with album covers. I used to listen to the Christmas albums while I made fudge at for Christmas gifts. I love your writing, but love you much more,
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the first album i ever bought was an Elvis one. If you are ready for a hoot try listening to Paul McCartney sing like elvis on Run Devil Run album i think. Oh my, i have to go to the bathroom before i pop it in the player. 🙂 REyn meatloaf, thanks! I had not had any since i had the flu in second grade and the last thing i ate was meatloaf. it’s taken 28 years for me to want it again. 🙂
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I am so enjoying your notes! thanks
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Thank you, thank you vera much.
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You captured the rapture of being that age, and being in love with an idol so well! For me it was The Monkees. you know, I think history has proven that yours was better! (though I still think that Peter Tork was the cutest!)
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You still have stars in your eyes. Maybe that’s why you sparkle so brightly. 🙂
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Thanks for the note about your neighbours using the house swap idea. I have signed up with one of them. I figured that even if I don’t use it I haven’t paid more than one night at a reasonable hotel so… Not a big expense to try it out. 🙂 I am really mostly concerned about Catman but I saw a few people listing that they have cats so… It may turn out to be my main criterion. *L*
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What a fabulous entry 🙂 Really 🙂 xxoo,
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I thought I’d drop a note into here, hoping you check notes. Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. Love,
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Happy Thanksgiving! : ) Hugs
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Love this it takes me back to teenage. Elvis is the King. The Everly Bros sang such lovely songs as for Bill Haley…Woohoo…rock around the clock. Thanks so much Patalija *smiles* *grins* *winks*
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🙂
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Merry Christmas Patalija!!!!
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I miss hearing your words of encouragement. You are so wise and I value what you say. Haven’t heard from you in a while so hope you are well and happy. Have a wonderful holiday!
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Merry Christmas! : )
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Thanks for your note! Lovely to have you for a friend too. Be great to see you here more soon : ) Hugs
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Dear Patalija, thinking of you and hoping all is well and you had a peaceful Christmas, and now Happy New Year! Love and hugs,
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Fantastic entry – full of wonder. My first love was the Beatles. I saw them in concert and thought my heart was going to beat right out of my chest. I was changing my baby girl’s diaper when I heard the news about Elvis. I can even clearly see the little striped shirt she was wearing. What a sad day.
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Thank you for your notes. And thank you, again. I hope your Christmas was filled with peace and joy. Wishing you a Happy New Year! May you embrace all the changes in 2004. Love,
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Happy New Year! I think of you often and hope that next year brings you lots of love and happiness. 🙂
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Best wishes to you for a Happy New Year! Hugs & Love : )
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Hoppy! hoppy new year! 🙂
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I don’t know how I missed this entry, patalija, but I am glad I found it while coming to wish you a happy new year. A friend of mine was recently in ICU under sedation. We arranged to have Elvis singing Christmas carols on a boom box when they brought her around. Made her smile. Thank you for all the kind words, Sweetie. I am wishing you a wonderous new year. Love,
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Happy new year!
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RYN, I can understand why the cloistered entry may have hit a chord with you. It takes the right circumstances which do not allow guilt or safety to be in question. I hope you have the opportunity, patalija, it was such a simple yet wonderful experience. Love,
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Dear patalija, hi, I am missing you! What’s the news. Are you east or west? I need an update dear friend! Love and a tight hug,
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Pssssssst … I miss you (((Patalija)))
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saw your note on another diary and thought i’d drop in to say i miss you, too.
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RYN: Bunnies by the Bay is on the very outside of La Conner, just as you enter the little town. Ask anyone in town. They’ll know. It is so full of girlie girl fun, you’ll plotz! Men take one look at the store, sigh and say “I’ll wait for you outside.” Perfect.
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wow, a different light? Thanks for your notie.
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Hiya!
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Dear patalija, Helloooo, have you made the move yet? Where are you old friend! Missing you?
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