BAND FROM ELVIS WEEK. My wife, Laurie, is a proud huge Elvis fan. Each morning at work I am greeted by a life-sized cardboard likeness of Elvis wearing a gold suit which stands behind her desk, 2 Elvis clocks that swivel at the hips with legs the swing back and forth in a pendulum motion, numerous Elvis photographs, books and other memorabilia. Sitting on my dinning room table at home is a set of Elvis ceramic blue swede shoes salt and pepper shakers. As a matter of fact If you want to watch a Bad Elvis Movie Marathon, come to my house, we have them all!! Well she is such a good person I really dont mind this mmmmmm interest? If you have never been to Memphis during Elvis Week you have never observed the love, adulation, adoration and devotion of Elvis fans. I have been there several times and simply do not comprehend it. It is the one time of the year that Elvises of all type appear. Short Elvis, Tall Elvis,Young Elvis, Fat Elvis and whole families of Elvises. It is akin to a giant Elvis Halloween Party. With me reluctantly in tow every August she make a pilgrimage to Memphis. Once there she soaks in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of Beal Street, Graceland, Sun Records, Marlowes BBQ, walks in the footsteps of Elvis, visits with his old friends and band member and participates in ALL Elvis Week activities. This includes a 5K run threw a subdivision next to Graceland with hundreds of Elvises and Priscillas. (Note to Self: No matter how close people tell you that you are to Elviss High School, unless you have extra money that you dont mind being relieved of at gun point do not take a walking tour. But that is another story). The climax of the weeks festivities is the Elvis Concert which is held in the Civic Center Concert Hall. Broadway stars appear to sing Elviss greatest hits while accompanied by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. The Finale consist of an appearance by the previous years Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winner. Shawn Klush had been the previous years winner therefore, he was this years featured artist. Shawns photo was on display in the atrium of the concert hall.This fellow looked like young Elvis to the tee and was billed as The Closest Thing to the King. At the appointed time the concert halls lights dimmed. Then a spotlight struck Shawn dressed in a light brown sports jacket. In the 1 year since his crowning Shawn had gained at least 40 lbs. Instead of Young Elvis he was now Fat Elvis. Life had been good to Shawn in the intervening year. He waddled to the middle of the stage where he turned his back to the audience and made the signature Elvis gesture of raising 1 arm and pointing a finger skyward while the dramatic theme music of 2001 a Space Odyssey blared. As his hand stretched upward the sports jacket that he wore also rose upward revealing where most of the weight gain had occurred. I have since referred to this as Full Moon Over Memphis. I must have temporarily lost my sanity. For some unexplained reason I found this terribly funny and began to laugh uncontrollably. I still find it funny. I suddenly began to feel the stares of many Elvis fans. They looked at me as if I were a 9 year old by that had done something inappropriate in church. (I will leave that to your imagination). Out of the darkness came a finger that began to shake in my face. On the other end of the finger was my wife saying If you cant behave you cant come back and You are just jealous of Elvis. Keep in mind that at this point Elvis had been dead for 35 years. But why add fuel to the fire by pointing out this fact. Well, my first thought was that not coming back did not sound to bad. The next year she took a friend to Elvis Week. This proved unsatisfactory. To much bathroom time. To much shower time. To much makeup time. To much hair time. To often late for events. To intolerant of heat. To into her diet to eat. To malnourished from her diet to walk without fainting. The next year another friend backed out at the last minute. My wife looked at me and said If you want to come you can. What she actually meant was Since I cant find anyone else would you please come. Sure. My banishment was over.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 02:07:39 +0000
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