The novel I’m currently trying to place, Children of the Resolution, has a scene of which I’m fairly fond. My protagonist, Carl, is still only about six years old and one of his classmates had just died (it’s a “special” school for kids with physical disabilities, set in the early 1970s.) One line in particular — because it was just the kind of thing I would have thought or said the time — I especially like.
Given that it’s Elvis Week, and that the man himself (or his music, at least) has been a part of my life for many, many years, now seems a good time to share the extract with you.
“If it made her feel bad to tell us about how Emiline had died and everything, she shouldn’t have to do it. Someone else should have done it for her. Mr. Dixon in assembly should have said, instead of making us sing Give Me Oil in My Lamp (although, I had to admit it was a good song — not exactly up there with Burning Love, but good nonetheless.) It wasn’t fair and I wanted to make it better for her but didn’t know how.”
Gary William Murning Online 
Burning Love is one of my favorite Elvis songs. But there are so many…
Tomorrow’s the day, isn’t it? And I’m pretty sure yesterday was the anniversary of his mother’s death. Weird how that happened…
Yeah, it’s tomorrow but I think Gladys Presley died on the 14th. I can’t be 100% certain but I think that was just one of the many Elvis-related myths. They were also meant to be the same age when they died (42) but I think Gladys was about 46.
How right you are, though — there are so many Elvis songs that I simply love. Memories is another that I never tire of.
That’s right. I remember it being said that they were both 42 when they died. Not so, huh?
Did I ever tell you that I’ve been to Graceland? We went about a year after Elvis died. There were two grave markers there — one his, one hers. But it seems like someone said they weren’t really buried there.
It was a really nice property. Wonder what it’s like now? Does anyone live there that you know of?
No, I’m fairly certain that Gladys was somewhere around 46. Still no age, though — says he, with 42 just around the corner!
I didn’t know you’d been to Graceland, no… at that time, I don’t think Elvis was buried there. He was originally buried at Memphis’s Forest Hill cemetery, in a mausoleum, but three guys tried to steal the body and as a result Vernon had it moved back to Graceland… I’ve just doublechecked, and Elvis’s body was reburied at Graceland on October 2, 1977, so his body would have been there when you visited.
I think there was at least one family member — a great aunt, or grandparent — living there until fairly recently (the past ten years or so), but now I believe it’s just a money making machine for Bob Sillerman et al. It’s all pretty tacky, in my opinion
You know I’m only about two months behind you? I turn 42 in November.
Yeah, my dad was a big Elvis fan, and living within driving distance (although it took an entire day and night) it was inevitable that we’d go there at least once. I thought it was cool even though I didn’t fully understand, at the time, how significant a figure Elvis really was. But I loved playing my dads albums!
So he was there after all! Thanks for checking that out!
I agree, it’s tacky. I’d like to go back sometime, though, just to see what it’s like now.
So had Carl decided what movie he wants to go see? (grin)
He was always a fan of King Creole. That do you?
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