[A/S] Graceland - Memphis, TN - October 25, 2000

[hhamp5246@xxxxxxx]

Hi gang,

Well, I've wanted to see this house since I was 11 years old and madly, 
passionately in love with Elvis.  I was not disappointed.

Let me back up two days... I left Oklahoma City on Monday morning after a sad 
goodbye to Don, who left for Austin.  As soon as I hit I-40 it started 
thumping... it got much worse in Arkansas.  I debated going on 64 which 
parallels I-40 but thought for the kitties' sake better to give them a short 
miserable drive than a long miserable drive. We stayed on I-40.... and rode 
most of the way in the left lane.  The big trucks simply passed us on the 
right, no need for them to change lanes. The left lane is bearable, the right 
isn't.

I stayed at a roadside RV park in Ft Smith then blew on past Little Rock and 
stayed about 75 miles west of Memphis last night in Brinkley.   The Super 
motel 8 has an RV park behind it.  No frills, but clean and ok.

This morning...Memphis.  I have to say I was really excited driving here... 
knowing I was going to see Graceland.  I did get a little lost, missed the 
exit because of construction... but as any of my close friends will tell 
you... I have an extraordinary sense of direction and somehow found Elvis 
Presley Boulevard on my own.

I'm at the KOA.. it ain't cheap.... with my discount it's $32.00 and that's 
for a back in!!  The good news is I'm backed up to Graceland's parking lot so 
I simply walked over.  I have never left the cats and dogs together in the 
trailer, but it's too hot to leave the dogs in the truck so I closed the 
bedroom accordian door and locked the cats in there with food, water and the 
cat box. Just in case, I had dogs attack a cat once so I feel better safe 
than sorry.

If you don't want to know about Graceland... quit reading now.

You buy your tickets on the west side of the street.  I popped for the deluxe 
tour which got me into everything.  The cost was $22.00.  You can see things 
a la carte if you want. I wanted it all.  We lined up for the little shuttle 
bus and were given a little tape player with headphones.  They took our 
picture individually.  Well, families were together, mine was just me. As I 
waited for the shuttle I felt myself welling up with tears.... "Too Much" was 
blaring on a loudspeaker.... I think being there was too much for me... "Not 
now", I thought as I fought tears.....  We boarded the bus and were driven 
across the street, through the famous wrought iron gate with metal 
silhouettes of Elvis and musical notes.  As we wound up the long driveway I 
was surprised to the the house.  It really is quite lovely.  Stone and 
clapboard.  A true Southern Colonial with two story pillars at the front 
porch.  It looked like it belonged in Virginia hunt country. Apparently when 
Elvis bought it and the 12 acres it wasin the middle of no where. Not now, 
it's in a crapy neighborhood full of fast food and gas stations and junk.

We got off the bus, turned on our tape players and walked up the steps past 
the stone lions which guard the front door.

Inside I was truly sorry I wasn't with a friend.... this is a place you need 
to share, I had so many funny things to say rolling in my head and no one to 
amuse.

We first looked into the living room and the music room.  They are not as 
tacky as I expected.  Lets face it, the 60s and 70s were tacky... Okay, the 
giant peacock stained glass windows flanking the music room entrance are 
tacky.... but the room was almost subtle with its white brocade furniture and 
deep blue drapes.  The couch is 15 feet long.  The trim is in gold, including 
gold smoked mirrors over the fireplace and a gold 70s sunburst clock in the 
middle of the mirrors.  The music room has a piano, sofa and gold drapes.  
The living room is the only room that didn't have a TV, the house has 14 of 
them.

The dining room has the blue drapes with gold trim.  An enormous crystal 
chandelier, and golden chairs with black upholstery...the table is also black 
and gold as are the marble tiles in the floor. The gold veined smoked mirrors 
continue in there.  Lots of shevles display bric-a-brac and the Presley's 
Noritake china (Buckingham) and crystal. Elvis always sat at the far end of 
the table where he could see the tv in the corner.

The kitchen is huge and visually very busy.... patterned carpeting on the 
floor, wood cabinets, white Formica countertops and harvest gold and avacado 
green appliances.

From there you descend into the basement through a mirror lined staircase 
into the TV room.  Three tvs sit built into the wall.  The ceiling is all 
mirrored, the huge sectional sofa and chairs are all black and the trim color 
is Hertz yellow.  The bar is bright yelllow with chrome and yellow 
barstools... the accessories are all chrome.... very hip, very 70s........

The Pool room has a regulation pool table.... and 400 yards of bunched 
multicolored fabric cover the walls and the ceiling giving it a sultan's tent 
look.  

Back up stairs to the Jungle Room, so named by the tour staff.  This was the 
room that stands out in people's minds.  It truly is a testament to 70s bad 
taste.  The carpet and ceiling are puke green (think Linda Blair in the 
Exorcist) shag carpeting. The walls are wood panels.  The furniture is rugged 
wood frames with fake fur upholstery.  The tables are burl wood... I like 
them (c:  The back wall is stone with water cascading down the stones.  The 
room reminded Elvis of Hawaii, a place he loved.

We never did get upstairs..... I guess it was too sad to see his bedroom and 
the bathroom where he died (if he did...bahahahhaha).

Outside again we walked around the grounds, saw his dad's office, and other 
outbuildings.  I was surprised that there are still horses living there, 
about 10 of them!  Elvis and Priscilla had horses... Elvis' favorite was a 
Palmonio Quarter Horse... there's a descendant there now.  He also had a 
black Tennessee Walking Horse, I saw him riding it in a video in the personal 
family museum.... Priscilla was riding it too, but it was a rocky ride 
because she didn't know how to make him "walk"  but Elvis looked very good in 
the saddle... the man could ride!  

The tour made  circle past the swimming pool to the "Meditation Garden"  
where Elvis and his parent and aunt are buried.  I thought I would get 
emotional there, but I didn't. 

One pleasant surprise was we were all given an official guidebook, full of 
photos. I kept thinking I would buy one as I didn't think many of the digital 
pictures I took would come out.... no flash bulbs allowed.  

Back on the bus and across the street to Graceland Plaza.  I was glad I 
popped for the deluxe tour because I saw the family museum, personal 
stuff...clothes, videos, momentos of his marriage.  Priscilla's wedding 
dress, which was very plain surprisingly.  Pictures of Priscilla when she was 
sporting the Vampira look. Also, his police badges.... 

Then on to the Car Museum... what a treat for car lovers.  The most famous 
car is the 1955 pink 4 door Caddy he bought for his mom.  Three Harleys, a 
Chopper and two Electra-Glides. His Ferrari, two Stutz Bearcats, an MG, two 
Lincoln Continentals, a purple Caddy... a drive in theatre where you sit in 
57 Chevy seats. A white Rolls.
Cool cars, every one of them.

The last stop was the airplanes.  The Lisa Marie, a Convair 880 and a little 
Lockheed Jetstar, the Hound Dog Two.

The Lisa Marie normally would seat 96 people, but the rows of seats are long 
gone, replaced by luxurious seating for up to 28 people.  Comfy suede couches 
and chairs, a huge conference/dining table, a private tv room with a sofa bed 
and then in the back Elvis' bedroom with a king size bed and private 
bathroom.  When I was in the Lisa Marie I kept thinking ths would make a 
fabulous RV (c:    

The little plane was.... hmmm.. garish comes to mind. It has blue carpet and 
lime green and bright yellow seats.  

I was touring all if this for about 2 hours, if I had been with someone else 
and not worried about the dogs it would have taken longer...... also, every 
museum exited into a gift shop.... it it has Elvis on it, it's for sale at 
one of them.  I moved quickly out. Oh, the photo they took of me before I 
boarded the bus.... it was mine to keep... for $19.95.  I don't think so!

I hot footed it across the parking lot back to the KOA.... as I approached 
the trailer I could see the top of the front sofa...with both kitties on it 
looking back at me. Hmmm...I went in, the bedroom door was still closed.... 
hmmmmm.

I have to say. I loved Graceland.... loved everything about it.  If you are 
anywhere in the United States within 3,000 miles of it... it's worth the 
drive. :D

Hunter