Precious Memories

Once upon a time, back in the 1970s, everyone didn’t have digital cameras, small cam corders, or even cell phones, never mind ones with cameras. Unlike now, filming an event any time or any place was not available to everyone. Film was used in every type of camera. Home movie cameras using 8 mm film were the only thing available to the general public. Zoom lenses for these cameras were not even something most people thought about. Usually home movies were taken of family events. Some Elvis fans used their home movie camera to record a different, very important event in their lives – Elvis’ concerts. Quite a lot of these films are out floating among fans. I received a very special one recently.


March 17, 1976 is a day that holds very precious memories for me. On that day I received my first scarf and kiss from Elvis Presley. In was in Johnson City, Tennessee. Elvis played Freedom Hall behind the high school for three nights that spring. I was present for all of the concerts. My scarf and kiss happened on the first night. Also that night I gave Elvis a pair of sunglasses. He wore these glasses on stage and joked about them. For years I had great photos of Elvis wearing the sunglasses while he was talking to me. Quite a few wonderful photographers were in the audience that night. Sadly I only have one not so very good picture of Elvis kissing me. A policeman’s hat blocks Elvis’ and my faces. All that can be seen is Elvis leaning down and the back of my shirt.


A few weeks ago, after thirty- three years, I got to see the kiss and the scarf. Like I said at the beginning, the 1970s were like the dark ages in terms of filming a concert by a fan. Compared to the technology of today the 8 mm film that is on the DVD I received appears primitive. The most important thing to me is that the film exists! As a participant, I was there when the event took place, of course, but I could only re-live it in my mind. Now for the first time, I can see the actual event. I saw the scarf and kiss captured on film as it happened. The kind Elvis fan who sent my husband the DVD was actually trying to get us footage of Elvis with the sunglasses. He no idea of the hidden treasures the DVD held.


As for the sunglasses, there are very brief shots of Elvis taking the glasses from me and passing them to Charlie Hodge. (I was told by one of the bodyguards that Elvis kept the sunglasses and played with them in his hotel room.) The CD of the concert that came with the DVD contained another gem- Elvis talking to me! I had handed him the sunglasses over the heads of women standing at the stage while Elvis gave out scarves. After everyone was seated, Elvis looked at right at me. He asked, “did you give me these glasses?” Elvis put the glasses on and kept on talking about how they made him look like Elton John or Isaac Hayes. (A few days later I received a personal thank you written by Elvis for the glasses.)


These are wonderful memories that are as fresh for me now as they were that March night over thirty years ago. To be able to see and hear the events anytime I want is an amazing gift; a gift that comes from someone who only wanted to help a fellow fan. Only a fan could understand how much this means to have these DVDs and CD. Every time I watch or listen, Elvis is alive for a few moments. Sirius radio slogan for its Elvis channel is “we never forgot.” This is the way it is for all Elvis fans who saw Elvis perform live. The atmosphere and excitement of the performances were never captured the way it really was for the audience. Like most fans, I am thankful for what remains and all our memories.

Mother Nature is Playing Tricks!

The sun is shinning bright and the temperatures are at near record highs outside. Spring? Is spring here? No. It is still February. In fact, it is not even Valentine’s Day. Today and this week is suppose to be wonderful weather-wise. But I’m not fooled. Spring is not here. I don’t even think it is just around the corner. Mother Nature is playing a trick on us. She is luring us unto a sense of a false spring.

I am not the only one not buying into this false spring. A few weeks ago, the groundhog saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter weather is what the sign tells us. One of our local weathermen is also seeing through Mother Nature’s trick. He has warned us to enjoy the nice weather- he predicts a return to winter between the 18^th and 20^th of February. I marked that on my calendar to see if he is right.

While I am enjoying the warmth I am not going overboard. No shorts or flip-flops for me. I’m still thinking maybe one good snow is still in the cards. I live in a bread-and-milk-state. If one drop of snow is predicted people run to the store to stock up on bread and milk. If snow actually falls, everything closes. Snow days are like major holidays for us. Right now we are all enjoying a preview of what’s to come when the time is right. Back to winter will be hard to take. We’ll adjust. What choice do we have? Under our blankets and coats we’ll be dreaming of the return of warm sunshine. Makes spring all the more worth waiting for and very appreciated when it arrives – for real.

Simply Having

I had a wonderful Christmas. It wasn’t about stuff- you know, what presents I got. Not to say I didn’t get great presents; I did. No, this was more about being together with my family. When I was a kid Christmas was all about getting. Getting that present I longed for day after day. As time went on it became about finding the right gift for people I loved. Then children came along and Christmas was all about them. Childhood relived through a child’s joy.

This year was different. Having both of my sons home for Christmas was better than any gift. Now that they are grown and living in another state, I always think the Christmas will come when we won’t all be together. That hasn’t happen yet but I still cherish every Christmas we are together.

Times are hard for people right now. Problems? We all have them. For a couple of days it was great to put daily problems on the back burner; to enjoy being with the people I love. That’s what life is all about isn’t it?

A Special Time

This is a very important week for me. I am graduating from college. Monday night was my last class. I started college about five or so years ago from scratch. When I graduated from high school I did not go on with my education- I got married. Still am, to the same guy. No Child Left Behind pushed me to college. I worked as a teacher assistant. In order to keep my job I was either going to have pass a test or get two years of college credit. Figuring that I was already doing most of a teacher’s job, I’d go the whole way and get a degree. That way I could make more money. Nice plan but I had no idea what the future would bring as I started taking classes.

Now I have finished all the classes. Friday night I am going to a reception to celebrate obtaining my degree. Then in a few weeks, my diploma will be mailed to me. I do not have the Education degree I started out to get. My degree is in history. My concentration is Education. If I take a few more classes, I can teach. Do I want to? I’m not sure. At this stage of my life, I am trying to figure out what I want to do. At one time I had everything all planned out. That was nice but things don’t always go the way we plan.

I want to thank all the people who supported me during my college career. My husband and sons were very supportive. Going to college was the only thing I ever remember my Mom telling me she was proud of me for doing. Many of my friends and co-workers helped me out. I am being encouraged by my family to go and participate in the actual graduation ceremony next May. My oldest son was able to advise me on something he has done that I have not. He told me when he graduated from college, he found out that walking in the ceremony wasn’t something you did for yourself- you did it for your family. I had never thought of it that way. Maybe I will do it. I have a couple months to make up my mind

I will have spare time again. Nothing hanging over me that has to get done. Maybe I get back to doing some things I have neglected. Get back to writing. Is it time to write that book about Elvis I have always thought about doing? Keep this blog up, if anyone reads it. I am learning about Facebook. My kids tell me it’s a way to keep up with what they are doing. Some of my Manilow friends may be happy I can be online more but some may not. I was not a big hit over on the Network but then tolerance for anyone who thinks outside the box is unknown over there. It’ll be different and an adjustment to be out of school. My husband says I’ll miss it. I will miss parts of it. I enjoyed learning and stretching my mind. My education has changed me for the better. The rest of my life is beginning. I have no idea where I’m headed but I’m ready. One of the main things I want to do is stay in better contract with my friends. Be prepared- you all may get tired of me. I’m back!!

Mountain Views

My husband and I took a nice day trip yesterday to see the fall leaves in the mountains. It was a beautiful sunny, warm day in the North Carolina mountains. Just perfect for seeing the leaves. It's nice to have a day away now and again, isn't it? I thought I'd share a few pictures I took during our ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hope you all enjoy them.

I Want My Money

All week the big news story has been the economy. Suddenly, it is a matter of doing something for Wall Street really fast – in a week. Hey, it did not take a week to get in this mess. Why is there such a hurry to give my money away? Yes, my money. I’m a taxpayer. An unemployed taxpayer who is not happy to even think about my tax money going to bail out companies who made tons of money giving out loans that they knew could not be repaid. Figures have been thrown around that if the bail out Bush wants passes, it would cost every taxpayer something around $7,000 each. Well, I don’t want to give Wall Street my money. I want it. I need it.

Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t want anyone to lose their home. In fact, why doesn’t the government do something to protect hard working folks who are having a rough time? Companies are out there preying on desperate people. Put some of these types of companies out of business. Take for example the company that runs a commercial on local stations in my town and I’m sure all over the country, starring Gary Coleman. It’s offering a loan for up to $2600. Of course the voice-over says to be sure you can afford the payments before applying for the loan. While Coleman is talking about selling his car and clothes (who would buy his clothes?), the fine print is saying that the interest on the loan is 99.25%. Let’s put these people out of business. What they are doing can only be illegal and unethical.

Forget the bail out. If the government wants to give money away, give it to the people that need it - people who would be looking to Gary Coleman for financial advice. Like me, they need their money. If Gary Coleman influences their decisions making, they need the money a heck of a lot more than I do. The government needs to slow down. Think things over. I have to be careful with my money; the government should have to be careful with my money too.

How Strong Are We?

Friday I had a flashback to the 1970s. People were lined up to buy gas all over my hometown. Some stations ran out of gas. Prices went up hour by the hour. I got gas at a convenient store that wasn’t very busy at all. In fact, they seemed happy to see me. One of the owners came out and asked me if I wanted to fill up. Two Asians guys ran the store. If I have to pay through the nose to fill my car up, at least I chose a place that seemed to appreciate my business. As I was pulling out, more cars were pulling in. I wonder if they got treated as well as I did? All this gas business was over the hurricane, Ike, that hadn’t even hit Texas yet.

Of course the news has been all over this story. People have complained. Subpoenas were served on gas stations owners who were gouging customers by our attorney general on Monday. News stories covered or tried to cover how much gas really cost. Come on, did they really think anyone was going to share that information? Bottom line- Americans, myself included, are going to pay the price, until we run out of the money to do so. I’m lucky. Things are tight for me because my husband is the only one working right now but we are able to get by. Some people are not so lucky.

I know there are people who have to make some hard decisions. Not only are gas prices high but so are food prices, medical cost, well, just about everything is going up. We learned yesterday no one is safe from going under. Big companies that have been in business for years are going under. I heard a financial professor at a local college tell a news reporter that things are going to change. It is going back to the way things were in the 1970s.

Oh, Lord. That was the energy crisis. High prices. People being priced out of the housing market and losing jobs. Wait a second that is what is happening now. I think we may need to look further back in history. Back to the 1930s. Think about the roaring 20s when everyone lived high and on credit. Sounds like how we live now, doesn’t it? Will the government allow another depression? Are we as strong as our great grandparents or grand parents? Let’s hope we don’t have to find out.